Bunion surgery in adolescents: results of surgical treatment.

The results of bunion surgery on 50 feet in 31 adolescents are reviewed. Average follow-up was 3 years 2 months. The failure rate was 36%. Fifty-one percent of the children had hypermobile flatfeet, and 32% had a long first ray. The recurrence rate in these groups was 56 and 50%, respectively. There were 20 reoperations for either recurrence (12) or hardware removal (eight). Elective bunion surgery in adolescents should only be performed in the face of progressive, painful deformity where both the patient and the patient's parents fully understand the goals and risks of surgery.