The pathophysiology of the juvenile bunion.
While the surgeon may tend to use one procedure in the repair of a hallux valgus deformity, versatility is most important when treating the juvenile bunion. Using a distal soft-tissue repair when subluxation is solely at the metatarsophalangeal joint is an acceptable approach. A metatarsal or cuneiform osteotomy is necessary if the intermetatarsal angle is abnormally large. It is important not to stretch the indications for a bunion technique in order to correct the hallux valgus deformity. If a more severe deformity is present, a more aggressive technique must be used to correct the abnormality. That varying success rates are reported with different techniques testifies to the fact that the juvenile bunion is not suited for a standard hallux valgus repair. The surgical technique used to repair a specific juvenile bunion depends upon the anatomic and physiologic abnormalities present in each patient.