Epidemiology of hallux valgus surgery in Italy: a nationwide study from 2001 to 2016

Abstract

Abstract This study intended to estimate the annual number of hallux valgus surgical procedures in Italy and the patients’ epidemiological features. A secondary goal was to compare the demographic differences in access to hallux valgus surgery amongst three Italian macroregions. The analysis was conducted by using the National Hospital Discharge Records (NHDR) database provided by the Italian Ministry of Health. 721,514 surgical procedures for Acquired Hallux valgus were performed. The cumulative incidence was 88.2 procedures for every 100,000 Italian residents. The highest number of procedures was found in the 60–64 age class. The 91.2% of patients were females. The mean length of hospitalization was 2.1 ± 2.2 days. Patients aged 95 to 99 had more days of hospitalization on average. The 51.9% of procedures were performed in the North, 25.7% in the Center and 22.4% in the South. The 98.5% of patients from the North received the surgical treatment in the same macro region of domicile; 90% in the Center; 78.5% in the South. The main primary procedure was: Bunionectomy With Soft Tissue Correction And Osteotomy Of The First Metatarsal (79.9%, 77.51 ICD-9-CM code). The socioeconomic burden of hallux valgus surgery in Italy is relevant. The incidence of hallux valgus surgery has progressively increased between 2001 and 2012 and decreased from 2012 to 2016. A geographical inequal distribution of procedures between the three Italian macroregions was pointed out. Migratory flows of patients from the South to the North for undergoing the procedure were observed.