The authors review 63 surgical cases of adolescent hallux abducto valgus in 54 patients from the Foot and Ankle Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine over a 7-year period. Twenty-five closing base wedge and capital osteotomies were evaluated for radiographic changes. Three quarters of a group of 65 patients with adolescent hallux abducto valgus were found to have an abnormally high metatarsus adductus angle. Patients who had a closing base wedge osteotomy had higher preoperative radiographic angles for the intermetatarsal, metatarsus adductus, hallux abductus, and proximal articular set angles as well as the tibial sesamoid position. Those patients had 4.49 degrees more intermetatarsal angle correction than the patients who had a capital osteotomy. Implications for evaluation and treatment are discussed.

Closed subcutaneous rupture of the anterior tibial tendon is a relatively uncommon injury that requires a thorough clinical examination to diagnose correctly. The authors report a case of this disorder and provide a review of the relevant literature. A method of surgical repair not previously described in the literature is also presented.

A bone substitute eliminates the need for autogenous and allogeneic bone grafting, along with the complications unique to each. Coralline hydroxyapatite is a synthetic bone void filler manufactured from marine coral, which has a natural trabecular structure similar to that of cancellous bone. While initial studies have been promising, the use of coralline hydroxyapatite may be limited in the foot and ankle owing to its inherent mechanical weakness and lack of biodegradation. In this retrospective study, 20 patients who received coralline hydroxyapatite implants were reviewed to determine associated complications and host reaction to the material. The results indicate that the material is biologically inert and safe to use as a small-defect filler in low-load applications. Long-term clinical trials are needed to determine the indications for this material in the foot and ankle.

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