Plantar pressure and radiographic changes to the forefoot after the Austin bunionectomy.

We describe the effects of the Austin bunionectomy on plantar pressure distribution and radiographic measurements in the forefoot in 31 subjects (44 feet) with mild-to-moderate hallux valgus deformity and 36 control subjects (36 feet). Plantar pressure measurements before and 24 months after surgery showed peak pressure beneath the hallux reduced to normal values. Peak pressure measurements beneath the first, second, and third metatarsal heads in hallux valgus feet were relatively unchanged after surgery and remained higher than normal values. The operation produced significant decreases in mean preoperative radiographic measurements of hallux abductus, metatarsus primus varus, and first metatarsal protrusion distance in these patients to below-normal values.