Rotational scarf (Z) osteotomy bunionectomy for correction of high intermetatarsal angles

Abstract

A modification of the scarf osteotomy bunionectomy is described. The modification involves a change in the movement of the osseous fragments from lateral transposition to lateral rotation of the metatarsal head fragment around a stationary axis at the metatarsal base. Rotation of the distal fragment in this manner allows greater than 50% transposition and, therefore, higher intermetatarsal angle corrections can be obtained as compared to a transpositional scarf osteotomy. The configuration of the scarf osteotomy is more stable to the stress of weightbearing than the closing base wedge osteotomy, and this modification can provide a useful alternative to closing base wedge osteotomy for the correction of severe hallux valgus deformity.