Rigid internal fixation of the Austin/Chevron osteotomy with Herbert screw fixation: a retrospective study

One of the adaptations of the Herbert bone screw (Zimmer Corp., Warsaw, Indiana) in podiatric surgery has been in the fixation of the Austin type osteotomy of the first metatarsal, to obtain rigid internal fixation. Technical difficulties in performing the procedure and complications have resulted in the development of several modifications of the original technique to better facilitate application of the Herbert screw. A brief review of the literature including history of distal metaphyseal osteotomies, and the uses of the Herbert screw is included. The purpose of this manuscript is to present utilization of the Herbert bone screw and modified jig in a modified Austin osteotomy, and to produce rigid internal fixation without the disadvantages of other internal fixation techniques.