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Hallux valgus and hallux rigidus: a comparison of impact on health-related quality of life in patients presenting to foot surgeons in Australia

Mark F Gilheany , Karl B Landorf and Priscilla Robinson

Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2008, 1:14doi:10.1186/1757-1146-1-14

Published: 11 December 2008

Abstract (provisional)

Background
Hallux valgus and hallux rigidus are common foot conditions that lead to a deterioration in health status. Patients with significant pain or deformity from these conditions frequently resort to surgery. In this project, the foot health status of patients with hallux valgus and hallux rigidus presenting to foot surgeons in Australia was compared.

Methods
Foot health status was measured in 120 participants using the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ), a validated 0 - 100 point health status instrument. All participants had presented for surgical advice regarding hallux valgus / rigidus. The mean age of participants was 48.0 years (SD 14.3, range 19 - 79).

Results
In the sample, 68% of participants were diagnosed with hallux valgus and 32% with hallux rigidus. Participants with hallux rigidus had greater levels of pain and functional limitation compared with hallux valgus. The mean difference for pain was 13.8 points (95% CI 4.6 to 22.9) and the mean difference for function was 15.0 points (95% CI 5.3 to 24.7). Both conditions result in similarly negative levels of impact on shoe fit and overall foot health.

Conclusions
This study found measurable differences in foot health status between hallux valgus and hallux rigidus in participants presenting for surgical consultation. While both appear to have a negative impact on health status, hallux rigidus has a more significant impact.

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Related threads:
Threads tagged with hallux rigidus
Threads tagged with hallux valgus
Threads tagged with quality of life

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And so why do orthopedic surgeons routinely fuse hallux valgus again?

Well..... they don't define either hallux rigidus or hallux valgus (I haven't read the whole paper). I'm willing to bet though, that they are dealing with hallux limitus, in which the 1st MTPJ is painful, opposed to a true hallux rigidus which is not.

Bill Liggins

Perhaps, but assuming all three of the authors don't know Latin might be a stretch. And "greater levels of . . functional limitation" (than hallux valgus) seems pretty clear. We all know what fusion does to function.

I think fusion is done just because it's easy to do. And the bunion never returns. Because so many do it, especially in public health countries, it's not substandard.

But it's second rate.

Cheers

Frederick