Increased rates of delayed union after percutaneous Akin osteotomy

Akin osteotomy is a well-known surgical procedure in forefoot surgery. When performing percutaneously, we have found a lot of delayed unions on follow up X-rays. The objective of this study was to assess the incidence of delayed union when performing a percutaneous Akin osteotomy.

We report a series of 26 cases who underwent minimally invasive (percutaneous) Akin osteotomy. The mean follow-up duration was 17.6 (range 12 to 24) months. We analys-24) months. We analyzed the time to fusion using standard weight bearing radiographs. All the procedures were uneventful and we had only two skin burns that healed without sequelae.

All the procedures were uneventful and we had only two skin burns that healed without sequelae. The average time to fusion in our series was 4.69 months (2-11): seventeen of the 26 osteotomies (65.4%) were considered radiographically healed at an average time of 2,94 months (2-5), whereas 9 patients (34.6%) sustained a delayed-union and healed at an average of 8 months (7-11).

Despite few intraoperative complications and satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes, our data suggest that a delayed union after Akin osteotomy is very common in the daily practice when performing it through a minimally invasive technique.