Complications of screw-fixated chevron osteotomies for the correction of hallux abducto valgus.

The surgical records of three podiatric physicians were reviewed to identify all chevron-type osteotomies performed during 2000-2001 for the correction of bunion deformity, and complications were reviewed for each. In the 95 cases identified, 15 complications occurred in 12 patients. Of these 15 complications, 4 were soft-tissue infections (4 patients), 4 were cases of painful hardware (3 patients), 4 were cases of second metatarsal head pain (2 patients), 2 were cases of cystic changes initially interpreted as osteomyelitis but later determined to be degenerative changes (2 patients), and 1 was a case of stiff toe (1 patient). There were no cases of avascular necrosis, hallux varus, or recurrence.