What is Hallux Varus?
Hallux Varus is a condition affecting the big toe. As opposed to a bunion, which causes the big toe to point inward toward the other toes, hallux varus causes the big toe to point away from the other toes.
This is a condition where the big toe has abnormally deviated towards the inside of the foot (unlike Hallux Valgus where the toe deviates to the outside of the foot).
What are the symptoms of Hallux Varus?
Patients will often complain of difficulty in wearing closed shoes, ulceration or callosities on the inside of the toe, pain over the lesser toes or over the main big toe joint. It is most commonly seen after trauma, as a natural genetic variant or a result of an overcorrection of hallux valgus.
How is Hallux Varus diagnosed?
Clinical examination and X-rays will demonstrate the deformity but a good history from an expert Foot and Ankle specialist will normally identify the underlying cause.
How is Hallux Varus treated?
Footwear adaptation and splinting can improve the symptoms that the patient experiences. Surgical solutions can be split into movement preserving or sacrificing. Realigning the toe but maintaining movement can be attempted through either osteotomies (bone surgery) or soft tissue procedures. A more reliable option is that of joint fusion but the trade-off to this is that most movement of the toe will be lost.
