Typical biopsychosocial profile of patients seeking operative treatment for symptomatic hallux valgus deformity

Hallux valgus deformity is common and affects 23% to 35.7% of adults globally (1). Medial forefoot pain and inability to wear closed shoes comfortably forces many patients to seek professional treatment. Research has also shown that hallux valgus deformity negatively impacts quality of life (2). It is therefore not surprising that hundreds of thousands of corrective hallux valgus surgeries are performed each year in the United States (3). Although surgical technique is continuing to undergo refinements in this area, the rates of postoperative hallux valgus recurrence remain high (>13%), and patient dissatisfaction following surgery may be as high as 25% (4,5). Recent work in the spine and hip literature suggests that patient psychological factors are highly predictive of patient satisfaction with their surgery (6). While the same may be true of patients undergoing hallux valgus surgery, there is a paucity of research that explores this potential association. In this presentation, we will describe the biopsychosocial patient profile (i.e., physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, and personality characteristics) of patients seeking operative treatment for symptomatic hallux valgus deformity. Profiles were determined through administration of a validated 63-item multiple choice patient self-report measure to more than 50 consecutive patients at the time of their scheduled bunion surgery (7). Our patient profiles will be compared to those of healthy adults and those seeking treatment for other disabilities (e.g., hip arthritis).