Evaluation of Therapeutic Effects of Weil Osteotomy in Patients with Hallux Rigidus

The purpose of this study is to investigate the results of surgical treatment for hallux rigidus using the Weil osteotomy method in grade III patients with this disease.

This quasi-experimental study involved a single-group intervention "before and after" the surgery. The research population consisted of patients with grade 3 hallux rigidus. The data collection tool used in this study was a checklist based on clinical examinations that evaluated joint movement in both plantar and lateral directions, as well as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to measure pain. The range of motion and pain level of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) join were investigated and recorded before the operation and 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation. All this information was entered into SPSS software version 26.

The study groups included 8 (22.9%) male and 27 (77.1%) female patients, with an average age of 77.1 ± 12.17 years. The amount of pain decreased significantly (P=0.00) at the one-month and three-month follow-ups after the intervention, and the amount of passive movement of the joint in the plantar directions significantly increased from one month to three months after the intervention (P=0.00). 17 patients (48.6%) took up to two weeks after surgery, 10 patients (28.6%) between two to four weeks, and 8 patients (22.9%) more than one month to recover the mobility. The average joint space of the patients after the operation in plain radiography was 3.6 ± 0.46.

: The Weil osteotomy surgery in hallux rigidus patients showed a significant decrease in pain level, and also a significant increase in joint motion and improvement in the average joint space in short term.