Utility of the modified 5-item frail index to predict complications and reoperations after hallux valgus percutaneous...

The modified 5-item frailty index (mFI-5) has been recently proposed as a useful tool for predicting postoperative complications in orthopedic surgery. We aimed to analyze the utility of this score in predicting complications and reoperations after hallux valgus (HV) deformity surgery.

551 patients undergoing percutaneous HV corrective surgery were retrospectively reviewed. The mFI-5 was calculated based and patients were categorized in three groups: 1) non-frail: patients without any of the 5 comorbidities, 2) pre-frail: patients with one comorbidity and 3) frail: patients with two or more comorbidities. Complications and surgical reoperations were recorded.

In the study period 772 percutaneous surgeries were performed to correct HV deformity, 551 patients were included with a median age of 60 (IQR 48-70). Three hundred eighty-nine patients were non-frail (70.6%), 132 were pre-frail (23.9%) and 30 were frail (5.4%). 75 patients suffered complications (13.6%). Even though the rate of complications was higher in frailty patients (23.3%) compared with pre-frail (13.6%) and non frail (12.8%), no significant differences were observed among groups. 48 patients required reoperation (8.7%) but the rate of reoperations among frailty groups was not significantly different (P=.11). Frailty patients had worse AOFAS scores at final follow up (P=.011).

The mFI-5 was not useful to predict postoperative complications and reoperations after hallux valgus corrective surgery. Therefore, other factors should be considered when analyzing the risk of complications after HV corrective surgery.