Chevron versus Mitchell osteotomy in hallux valgus surgery: a comparative study.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Foot and Ankle Surgery

Background:

• Chevron and Mitchell osteotomies are common surgical procedures for mild hallux valgus (HV).
• Previous studies suggest good clinical outcomes for both techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the degree of first metatarsal shortening between chevron and Mitchell osteotomies in HV surgery.
• To evaluate secondary outcomes including valgus correction, metatarsalgia, and patient satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study included 84 patients with hallux valgus, randomly assigned to either chevron or Mitchell osteotomy (42 patients each).
• Preoperative and follow-up measurements included first metatarsal length, hallux valgus angle, 1-2 intermetatarsal angle, patient satisfaction, and metatarsalgia assessment.

Main Results:

• The Mitchell osteotomy group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in first metatarsal length compared to the chevron osteotomy group.
• No significant difference was observed in the incidence of transfer metatarsalgia between the two surgical groups.
• Approximately 30% of patients reported mild or no satisfaction with the surgical outcome.

Conclusions:

• Mitchell osteotomy results in more substantial first metatarsal shortening than chevron osteotomy.
• Preventing postoperative metatarsalgia is crucial for successful hallux valgus surgery outcomes.
• Further research may be needed to optimize patient satisfaction and minimize metatarsalgia.