Clinical results of scarf osteotomy

Background/Aim. There are few research papers in Serbia reporting on the clinical results of scarf osteotomy and its long-term effects. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of the scarf osteotomy in hallux valgus (HV) deformity correction, as well as the degree of recurrence and its possible causes. Methods. The study included 48 patients (52 feet) who underwent scarf osteotomy. Average follow-up time was 103.9 months (63-156). In order to clinically evaluate the results, the scale of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain were used. Preoperatively and postoperatively, in order to radiographically determine the degree of deformity, radiographs of the feet were taken in the standing position and the parameters determined were: HV angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMTA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMTAA) and sesamoid position. Results. The AOFAS scores increased from 19 (5-45) points preoperatively, to 92 (54-100) points at the time of the latest follow-up examination (p < 0.001). The VAS values significantly improved from 10 (8-10) preoperatively, to 0 (0-6). The average HVA correction was 24.8?. The recurrence rate in patients in whom the HVA was greater than 20? was 26.9%. Conclusion. Although scarf osteotomy is a proven procedure for the correction of HV, long-term results still show a relatively high rate of recurrence.