Hallux Valgus Surgery is Failing Long Term

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A long term study of post surgical HV patients by Lalevee et al 2024, reported the following:

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize and critically appraise the literature on the long-term outcomes of shaft osteotomies of the first metatarsal (M1) to treat HV without inflammatory disease or degenerative arthritis, and to assess the long term HV recurrence rates of studies with a minimum follow-up of 5 years

Results: The HV recurrence rate was 40%, considering the threshold of >15° hallux valgus angle (HVA),
30% having >20°, and 2% having >25°

From this study, one must question why the high recurrence rate.

Apparentlz, surgical intervention is only treating the symptom (HV). A much better approach is to isolate and treat the etiology.

Anyone care to disagree?

Lalevée Matthieu, Saffarini Mo, van Rooij, Floris et al. 2024. Recurrence rates with long-term follow-up after hallux valgus surgical treatment using shaft metatarsal osteotomies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
EFORT Open Reviews 9(10):933 DOI: 10.1530/EOR-23-0093

 

One of the most common, if not the most common, pathomechanical event preceeding HV formation is gDP (gravity Drive Pronation).

Isolate the cause of gDP, treat that pathology, and HV do Not develop!