Minimally invasive hallux valgus correction: Is it better than open surgery?

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Foot and ankle surgery
• Surgical techniques

Background:

• Hallux valgus deformity correction is a common orthopaedic procedure.
• Chevron osteotomy is a standard surgical technique for hallux valgus.
• Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) offers potential advantages over open procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of minimally invasive (MIS) chevron osteotomy versus open chevron osteotomy for hallux valgus correction.
• To evaluate radiographic and functional outcomes of both surgical approaches.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of two matched cohorts (MIS vs. open chevron osteotomy).
• Functional outcomes assessed using MOXFQ, VAS, and UnEOS scores.
• Radiographic evaluation of hallux valgus (HV) and intermetatarsal (IM) angles by blinded examiners.

Main Results:

• Both MIS and open techniques significantly improved functional scores and radiographic angles.
• MIS chevron osteotomy demonstrated superior correction of the intermetatarsal (IM) angle (p=0.016).
• No significant differences were found in functional outcomes (VAS, MOXFQ) or HV angle correction between the groups.

Conclusions:

• MIS chevron osteotomy provides superior radiographic correction of the IM angle compared to open surgery.
• Functional outcomes are equivalent between MIS and open chevron osteotomy.
• MIS chevron osteotomy is a safe and effective alternative to open surgery for hallux valgus.