A NEW APPROACH TO HALLUX VALGUS SURGERY

W.J. Porawska, D. Siwiñski Rheumatology, University of Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, MSWiA Hospital, Poznan, PolandObjectives: One of the basic elements of surgical therapy of the halux valgus is the excision of the prominence of the first metatarsal due to its hypertrophy.The aim of the study was to asses the size of the first metatarsal prominence in different stages of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: The group assessed comprised 30 patients in whom radiograms were taken before surgical correction of the halux valgus and a control group consisting of patients in whom radiograms were taken due of injury. The angle of deviation at which the first metatarsal and the halux was measured, along with the width of the distal ephyphysis and measurement of the first metatarsal prominence.Results: The results showed no statistically significant differences in the average width of the first metatarsal prominence. In the control group the average width of this prominence was 4mm, in the osteoarthritis group 4,2mm and 4,3mm in the rheumatoid arthritis group.Conclusion: In conclusion the results of our study show that the decision for first metatarsal excision should be individual for each patient, not necessarily be excised in every patient with halux valgus.Citation: , volume , supplement , year 2004, page Session: Orthopedic surgery