Hallux abducto valgus is one of the most common deformities encountered in podiatric medical practice. Hallux abducto valgus, commonly referred to as abunion, may have two components: a rigid or structural component and a dynamic or flexible one. One component usually predominates over the other. The dynamic or flexible component is reducible clinically or after lateral soft-tissue release intraoperatively.
The rigid or structural component is not reducible. Some have suggested that a hallux abducto valgus deformity of a dynamic nature can be corrected by the use of musculotendinous balancing procedures alone, precluding the need for any type of osteotomy. When the increase in the intermetatarsal angle is secondary to a structural abnormality, an osteotomy or arthrodesis procedure is necessary to achieve the desired correction.
Soft-tissue manipulation and osseous correction are often combined in hallux abducto valgus surgery.