title: A mechanical comparison of first metatarsal diaphyseal osteotomies for the correction of hallux abducto valgus.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to perform a mechanical comparison of four commonly performed diaphyseal first metatarsal osteotomies. Fifty first metatarsal-first cuneiform sawbone models were divided equally into five groups: control, offset V, inverted Z, Mau, and Ludloff osteotomy groups. All osteotomies were fixated with two 2.7-mm Synthes cortical screws. Each specimen was then stressed through a computer-controlled hydraulic tensile testing machine while recording the maximum load, energy, stiffness, and fracture pattern. The offset V was superior in terms of maximum load (137.8 N) and energy (0.86 J), as compared to the inverted Z (maximum load 74.7 N and energy 0.24 J), the Mau (maximum load 74.3 N and energy 0.15 J), and the Ludloff (maximum load 67.0 N and energy 0.32 J). The offset V (16.6 N/mm) demonstrated no significant difference in stiffness with the Mau (19.7 N/mm), and was stiffer to the inverted Z (14.4 N/mm) and the Ludloff (9.4 N/mm). We conclude that one could expect a safer and immediate return to weightbearing postoperatively with the offset V osteotomy as compared to the inverted Z, Mau, and Ludloff osteotomies.
authors.affiliation: St John North Shores Hospital, Harrison, MI 48045, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wertheimer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haut
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018483:Diaphyses; D006215:Hallux Valgus / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*