Comparison of early outcome of Weil osteotomy and distal metatarsal mini-invasive osteotomy for lesser toe metatarsalgia.

PURPOSE: To compare the 6-month outcome of Weil osteotomy with distal metatarsal mini-invasive osteotomy (DMMO) in 33 patients with lesser toe metatarsalgia.

METHODS: Records of 33 patients who underwent Weil osteotomy (n=20, 41 toes) or DMMO (n=13, 22 toes) for lesser toe metatarsalgia by a single surgeon were reviewed. 25 of them had a concurrent procedure on the 1st toe. Outcome at 6 months was assessed using the visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) lesser toe metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal (MTP-IP) score, and the RAND-36 score.

RESULTS: The 2 groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, and preoperative MTP joint range of motion (ROM), VAS for pain, AOFAS lesser toe MTPIP score, and RAND-36 scores. At 6 months, the Weil osteotomy group had a higher RAND-36 (mental) score (92 vs. 78, p=0.026), and the DMMO group had a higher percentage of toes with greater MTP joint ROM (p=0.043). All patients achieved bone union within 6 months. Two patients in the DMMO group had prolonged oedema until 3 months post-surgery.

CONCLUSION: DMMO is a safe and reliable alternative to Weil osteotomy for metatarsalgia and can preserve ROM of the MTP joints.