Return to Sports and Physical Activities after the Modified Lapidus Procedure for Hallux Valgus in Young Patients

Abstract

Background: The modified Lapidus procedure has successfully relieved pain and corrected deformity in patients with hallux valgus, but its effect on participation in specific sports and physical activities remains unclear. Our goals were to assess sports and physical activities in young patients following the modified Lapidus procedure and to compare these with clinical outcomes. Methods: Fifty-eight eligible patients were identified from a retrospective registry review. Of these, 48 (83%) were reached for follow-up at a mean of 2.8 (range, 1.0 to 6.1) years and had a mean age at surgery of 37.3 (range, 14.1 to 49.3) years. Physical activity participation was evaluated with a new sports-specific, patient-administered questionnaire. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and compared to sports outcomes. Results: Patients participated in 26 different physical activities, consisting of 212 total physical activities preoperatively and 209 total postoperatively. The most common were walking, running, bicycling, and swimming. Compared to preoperatively, patients rated 29% of activities as less difficult, 52% as the same, and 19% as more difficult and rated participation levels as improved in 40%, the same in 41%, and impaired in 19%. Eighty-one percent of patients were satisfied with their operative outcome in regard to return to physical activity. Changes in the FAOS Pain subscore were significantly associated with improvements in physical activity difficulty (P