Lateral soft tissue release with distal chevron metatarsal osteotomy in moderate and severe hallux valgus

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic outcomes of distal chevron metatarsal osteotomy associated with lateral joint capsule split as only lateral soft tissue release in patients with symptomatic moderate and severe hallux valgus (HV) deformity. Ninety patients (103 feet) at our institution between January 2014 and December 2019 were included in the present retrospective study. Each patient was evaluated preoperatively and at final follow-up by means of weight bearing radiographs lateral and dorsoplantar views. We analyzed hallux valgus angle (HVA), first-second intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and medial sesamoid position (MSP). The mean follow-up time was 21.8 months (range 6-69.4). The mean of the HVA improved, from 36.6 to 24.3º, the IMA from 13.05 to 9.93º and the MSP from 2 to 1. Our study demonstrates that the deformity recurrence rate after surgery is 69.9%. Radiologic HV recurrence was defined by a final HVA equal or more than 20 degrees at final follow-up. Level of Evidence, IV.