Comparing the Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Cheilectomy to Open Cheilectomy With Moberg Osteotomy for the Treatment of Hallux Rigidus.

Background: Both an open cheilectomy with a Moberg osteotomy and percutaneous cheilectomy have been successfully used to treat hallux rigidus and preserve motion.However, there have been no studies that have compared these 2 procedures using validated patient-reported outcomes such as the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System.

Methods: A retrospective review of hallux rigidus patients between January 2016 and July 2021 collected 48 percutaneous cheilectomy (PC) patients and 71 open cheilectomy with Moberg (OCM) patients. Preoperative and minimum 1-year postoperative PROMIS scores were collected.

Results: The OCM and PC cohorts did not have significant differences in their postoperative PROMIS scores. Both cohorts had modest but significant improvements postoperatively in the physical function, pain interference, and pain intensity domains. The OCM group had a larger degree of improvement in physical function, pain interference, and pain intensity (P = .015, .011, .001, respectively). No significant difference was identified in the reoperation rate.

Conclusion: Patients undergoing an OCM had worse preoperative PROMIS scores and a modestly greater change in patient-reported outcomes than patients undergoing a PC.

Level of evidence: Level III, retrospective review.