Is it feasible to rely on intraoperative X ray in correcting hallux valgus?

Background: The aim of the study was to prove whether the intraoperatively taken fluoroscopy pictures compared to the X rays taken 8 weeks and 3 months postoperatively picture the achieved correction reliably.

Method: In a prospective study, the pre- and postoperative standing foot X rays as well as the intraoperatively taken fluoroscopy pictures of 31 patients were analysed. The intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and the hallux valgus angle (HVA) were measured. In all cases, a tarso-metatarsal joint I arthrodesis combined with a distal soft tissue release was performed. The mean age was 54 (17-73) years.

Results: There was no significant difference between the measured angles in intraoperative fluoroscopy and standing X rays postoperatively taken.

Conclusions: Despite the consideration that fluoroscopic pictures lack the loading criteria, we found reliable results in IMA and HVA.