Use of a simple suture to stabilize the chevron osteotomy: a prospective study.

A clinical and radiographic review was undertaken in 27 patients (30 feet) who underwent a chevron osteotomy stabilized with a double loop of polydioxanone suture. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 40 years (range, 16 to 66 years). At 6 weeks postoperatively, all patients showed clinical and radiographic union at the osteotomy site. In 1 foot, the initial correction was lost with radiographic evidence of an angulated distal fragment with no medial translation. There were no cases of wound infection, sinus formation, or avascular necrosis of the metatarsal head. No patients required further surgery. This method of stabilizing a chevron osteotomy is technically straight forward, with a predictable outcome, and provides a valid low cost alternative to screw, bioabsorbable implant, or Kirschner wire.