[Hallux valgus - indication for surgery.]

The authors assessed the outcomes of the operation of hallux valgus in 73 patients operated on at the Ist Orthopaedic Clinic in Brno in the period between 1991 and 1994.The operations were either performed on soft tissues (Schede, McBride) or they were distal osteotomies (Mitchell, chevron osteotomy). The authors present a list of criteria important for the choice of either method of surgery. In their retrospective study they monitor the satisfaction of patients in the interval between 54 and 76 months and compare the satisfaction of patients in the group where all indication criteria were met with the satisfaction of patients in a group where some of the indication criteria missed. On the basis of a statistical evaluation of the outcome the authors state that in the group of patients where all indication criteria were met the number of satisfied patients is statistically significantly higher than in the other group. As a result observation of indication criteria contributes to markedly better medium-term results of the operations of hallux valgus. Key words: hallux valgus, soft tissue procedure, distal metatarzal osteotomy.