[Personal experience with the basal wedge closed osteotomy of the first metatarsus in hallux valgus]

The authors present their philosophy of the surgical treatment of metatarsus primus varus by oblique basal closed osteotomy of 1st metatarsal, evaluate and generalize the results achieved also with regard to the age of patients.

The evaluation covers a group of patients operated on for the mentioned static defect since 1995 with a minimal interval of 12 months after the surgery. From this general group a subgroup has been subsequently singled out of children and adolescents up to the age of 18. The general group included 24 patients in which 31 surgeries were performed. The subgroup of children and adolescents comprised 10 patients in which the surgery was performed in 12 feet.

Monitored in both group was age, sex, osteotomy laterality, the presence of distal operation. Post-operative monitoring focussed on the following data: the time interval after the operation, subjective satisfaction, range of motion of Ist metatarsophalangeal joint, the incidence of complications. Evaluation covered post-operative correction of individual angles and the shortening of Ist metatarsal by comparison of pre- and post-operative radiograph.

Evaluated in the whole group were 22 patients, in the group of children and adolescents 8 patients, with average time interval of 3 years after the operation. On the basis of the surgery average correction of intermetatarsal angle by 10.5 degrees was achieved in both groups, average correction of valgosity by 18 degrees in the basic group and by 10 degrees in the group of adolescents.

The results are evaluated globally on the basis of specialized literature. The authors present their philosophy of the solution of the issues of metatarsus primus varus as a static defect by different surgical techniques, formulate a clear strategy of the use of distal surgery and discuss its efficiency in relation to the patient's age.

Oblique basal closed osteotomy of Ist metatarsal within a comprehensive solution of the static defect of hallux valgus is recommended to the broad orthopaedic public as a surgery which in view of the authors can bring good results in children and adolescents. In adults they recommend to indicate this surgery in the mentioned cases in combination with a distal operation.