Current concepts in the treatment of hallux valgus

Hallux valgus is a common disorder of the forefoot that results from medial deviation of the first metatarsal and lateral deviation and/or rotation of the great toe (hallux) with or without medial soft-tissue enlargement of the first metatarsal head (bunion). It is the most common pathologic condition affecting the great toe. There is a known predilection of hallux valgus and bunions in the female population (female-male ratio =9:1), which is likely due to both biomechanics (joint laxity/instability) and shoe wear demands. There are many different conservative and surgical treatment options for hallux valgus and bunions. The multitude of established procedures and technique modifications in the literature underscores the fact that no single approach universally addresses this common disorder.