Hallux valgus deformity treated with the extensor hallucis longus tendon transfer by dynamic correction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Foot and Ankle Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Hallux valgus recurrence is a common postoperative complication.
• The extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon transfer technique was developed to address this issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of EHL tendon transfer in correcting hallux valgus.
• To assess the impact of this technique on pain, joint function, and recurrence rates.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-five patients (38 feet) underwent surgical correction involving distal soft tissue release, medial eminence excision, capsular plication, and EHL tendon transfer.
• Pre- and postoperative assessments included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and weight-bearing radiographs.
• Follow-up averaged 38.2 months.

Main Results:

• 85% of patients were pain-free at the first MTP joint postoperatively.
• Significant reductions were observed in both the hallux valgus angle (38.3° to 7.3°) and intermetatarsal (IM) angle (12.5° to 6.5°).
• The mean AOFAS score improved significantly from 46.5 to 84.8.

Conclusions:

• Medial transfer and reconstruction of the EHL tendon effectively correct hallux valgus.
• This surgical technique achieves stress balance in the MTP joints, preventing hallux valgus recurrence.