The Adolescent Bunion

The management of bunion deformities in adolescent patients is often a source of consternation for orthopaedic surgeons. Reports of recurrence and surgical failure along with a multitude of procedures to choose from create a wariness to manage the problem surgically. The biggest challenge in managing this problem is a lack of understanding by orthopaedic surgeons that adolescent bunions and adult bunions frequently arise from two distinct etiologies. The main difference between the two is that unlike adult bunion deformities, the hallux metatarsophalangeal joint in the adolescent bunion is congruent as the deformity is caused by a dysplasia of the metatarsal head. This dysplasia results in a valgus orientation of the first metatarsal articular surface (ie, elevated DMAA [distal metatarsal articular angle]). The recognition of this difference has implications for the evaluation and treatment of these deformities in adolescents.