Influence of common associated forefoot disorders on preoperative quality of life in patients with hallux valgus.
BACKGROUND
Hallux valgus (HV) is frequently associated with other forefoot disorders, but its influence on preoperative quality of life (QOL) has not been well characterized. The main purpose of this study was to assess the influence of common associated forefoot disorders (metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities) on preoperative QOL in patients with HV.


METHODS
Preoperative QOL assessed through the Short Form-36 (SF-36, version 2) was obtained from 94 patients with HV from a database. Patients were classified according to their condition: HV alone, HV and metatarsalgia, HV and lesser toe deformities, and HV and both metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities. Values of each domain were compared among groups. In addition, a correlational study between SF-36 and radiographic severity of HV was performed. The mean age of the 94 patients was 62.6 ± 12.3 years. There were 42.6% patients with HV alone, 30.8% with HV and metatarsalgia, 16% with HV and lesser toe deformities, and 10.6% with HV and both metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities.


RESULTS
Patients with HV and associated metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities had significantly worse physical function (P = .029), role-physical (P = .017), bodily pain (P = .045), role-emotional (P = .016), mental health (P = .001), and mental component summary (P = .003) compared to patients with HV alone. There were no significant correlations between radiographic HV and intermetatarsal angles and any of the domains or summaries of the SF-36.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with HV and both metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities have significantly worse QOL compared to patients with HV alone. The presence of associated forefoot deformities may be a discriminating factor for the prioritization of surgical treatment of HV.


METHODS
Level III, cross-sectional study.
Hospital del Mar i l'Esperança - Parc de Salut Mar, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Alberto
A
Gines-Cespedosa
Eduard
E
Alentorn-Geli
Juan Francisco
JF
Sanchez
Joan
J
Leal-Blanquet
Pau
P
Rigol
Lluís
L
Puig
Santiago
S
de Zabala
D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005531:Foot Deformities, Acquired / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005545:Forefoot, Human; D006215:Hallux Valgus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037061:Metatarsalgia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life
associated forefoot disorders; hallux valgus; quality of life