Short-term results of minimally invasive surgery using a 3D-printed guide for the treatment of hallux valgus.

INTRODUCTION

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is often used to treat hallux valgus deformities, as it is associated with few wound complications and shorter recovery times. Minimally invasive chevron osteotomy and Akin osteotomy (MICA) is a common minimally invasive treatment for HV. However, effective correction of hallux valgus and precise screw placement during MIS are difficult. The aim of this study was to introduce and evaluate the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of a novel MIS technique involving the use of a 3D-printed guide for hallux valgus.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We retrospectively studied the results of MIS with a 3D-printed guide plate for symptomatic hallux valgus from May 2022 to December 2023. The preoperative and postoperative hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), first metatarsal pronation angle (M1PA), tibial sesamoid position (TSP), forefoot width, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP score, and the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy were measured.

RESULTS

A total of 22 feet in 19 patients were included in the study. There were 15 women and 4 men with an average age of 38.0 y (range 16-61). The preoperative HVA, IMA, DMAA and M1PA were 30.3 ± 10.7°, 13.9 ± 2.8°, 8.3 ± 2.9° and 16.3 ± 6.5°, respectively. The postoperative HVA, IMA, DMAA and M1PA were 10.7 ± 4.1°, 5.7 ± 1.8°, 2.3 ± 1.7° and 3.5 ± 2.1°, respectively. The forefoot width decreased from 92.1 ± 5.5 mm to 85.6 ± 5.4 mm on average. The VAS and TSP ranged from 4.4 ± 0.9 and 4.9 ± 0.8 to 0.3 ± 0.6 and 2.0 ± 1.1, respectively. The AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP scores improved from 59.1 ± 10.7 to 94.8 ± 5.7 on average. The average number of fluoroscopy shots during operation were 34 times (range 30 to 38).

CONCLUSIONS

A 3D printed guide technique can be beneficial for precise positioning of the first metatarsal head, enhancing the accuracy of screw placement, and reducing radiation exposure.