OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of treatment on the cases of severe hallux valgus by the first metatarsal basal osteotomy combined with Chevron-Gerbert operation.

METHODSFrom June 2004 to August 2008, 37 cases of severe hallux valgus (66 feet) underwent first metatarsal basal osteotomy combined with Chevron-Gerbert operation. There were 5 males (10 feet) and 21 females (38 feet), aged 21 - 76 years (mean 58 years). For all patients with follow-up, radiographic measurements of frontal and lateral position of foot were taken to measure the hallux valgus angle (HVA), the IMA (intermetatarsal angle) and the proximal articular set angle (PASA) preoperatively, postoperatively and in follow-up respectively. The measuring results were compared among the preoperative, the 6-week postoperative and the final follow-up. At the same time the patients were evaluated with the AOFAS Maryland score.

RESULTSOf the original 37 patients, 26 patients (48 feet) were followed up. The mean durations of follow-up was 2.3 years (range from 1 to 4 years). At final follow-up, HVA corrected 25.6° ± 3.8°, IMA corrected 8.6° ± 2.4°, and PASA corrected 4.7° ± 4.2°. According to AOFAS rating system, 91.7% patients were rated as excellent or good with excellent in 15 patients (28 feet), good in 8 patients (16 feet), and fair in 3 patients (4 feet).

CONCLUSIONSFirst metatarsal basal osteotomy combined with Chevron-Gerbert operation has good efficacy to the patients with severe hallux valgus. However there are disadvantages such as complexity relatively for multi-stage osteotomy and internal fixation.