Reduction of intermetatarsal angle following Keller arthroplasty

A composite retrospective radiographic analysis of 71 patients who had undergone the Keller arthroplasty and 76 who had undergone the Keller with hemi-implant was performed. The combined mean preoperative intermetatarsal angle was 11.4 degrees, the mean postoperative intermetatarsal angle was 9.4 degrees, and the mean change in intermetatarsal angle was 2.0 degrees. Although the reduction of the metatarsus primus adductus deformity obtained was less than previous studies, the amount of correction was directly proportional to the magnitude of deformity. The authors conclude that through reverse buckling at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, adequate reduction in the positional component of metatarsus primus adductus can be obtained with the Keller arthroplasty alone or with a hemi-implant. These procedures are preferred over metatarsal osteotomies in the physiologically older patient, especially when a severe metatarsus primus adductus deformity exists.