Sesamoid complex angle correction after arthrodesis of the first cuneometatarsal joint in the treatment of hallux valgus

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the degree of sesamoid complex correction in patients with moderate and severe hallux valgus undergoing cuneometatarsal arthrodesis by comparing general pre- and postoperative values and also post-reduction outcomes between moderate and severe cases. Methods: The radiographs of 24 patients (83.3% females and 16.7% males) who underwent arthrodesis of the first cuneometatarsal joint wereretrospectively analysed. The patients’ mean age was 52.58 years. The metatarsophalangeal, intermetatarsal and sesamoid dislocation angles were measured on the preoperative and immediate postoperative radiographs, with the former measured in the standing position and the latter measured intraoperatively, all in the anteroposterior incidence. The first metatarsal lateralization necessary to centralize the sesamoids wasmeasured in degrees. We refer to this angle as the “angle to be corrected”. Results: We achieved sesamoid dislocation correction, reducing the indicated angles in relation to their preoperative values. Both moderate and severe cases showed statistically significant differences in angular correction after surgery, with p=0.018 and p<0.001, respectively. Comparing the moderate and severe cases, a statistically significant difference was observed preoperatively, with p=0.007; however, the results were not statistically significant postoperatively (p=0.227). Conclusion: We achieved effective correction of the ABC in terms of both the total patient sample and the isolated analysis of the moderate and severe groups. Preoperatively, the moderate cases had smaller angles than the severe cases, but both groups exhibited reductions in these angles in the postoperative period and had similar outcomes.
 Level of Evidence III; Retrospective Study.