Preliminary study on the medial longitudinal arch in hallux valgus / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the medial longitudinal arch of the foot with and without hallux valgus in order to establish the relationship between hallux valgus and the arch. Methods 34 feet of 24 cases with hallux valgus and 34 normal feet of 18 cases were investigated by roentgenography. On the dorsal plantar view while weight-bearing standing, the hallux valgus angle (HVA), the first intermetatarsal angle, and the position of the tibial sesamoid relative to the first metatarsus were measured respectively. On the lateral view while weight-bearing standing, the top angle of the medial longitudinal arch, the anterior angle of the medial longitudinal arch (also named as the first metatarsal inclination angle) and the relative height of the talus, which are similar to measurement of the height of the medial longitudinal arch, were measured respectively. The characteristics of the medial longitudinal arch of the feet with and without hallux valgus were compared, and the correlation between the height of the medial longitudinal arch and the severity of the hallux valgus, which were manifested by the hallux valgus angle, first intermatatarsal angle, the relative position of the tibial sesamoid, was analyzed. Results The top angle of medial longitudinal arch was 136.9??7.6? in hallux valgus feet and 126.7??2.1? in normal feet; the anterior angle of medial longitudinal arch was 10.8??2.6? in hullux valgus feet and 16.6??1.6? in normal feet; the relative ratio of height of talus was 0.159?0.03 in hallux valgus feet and 0.199?0.01 in normal feet , there was significant difference between two groups. While with the increase of the lateral displacement of tibial sesamoid, the angle of hullxus valgus and the first intermetatarsal angle, the top angle of medial longitudinal arch became larger, the anterior angle of arch became smaller, and the relative height of talus became lower. The medial longitudinal arch of the foot with hallux valgus was collapsed, and there was moderate to high relationship between the height of the medial longitudinal arch and the severity of the hallux valgus. Conclusion Hallux valgus is a three dimensional deformity, which will disturb the normal biomechanics of the foot.