Cortical bone pin fixation: a preliminary report on fixation of digital arthrodeses and distal chevron first metatarsal osteotomies.

Abstract

From 1998 to 1999, the senior author utilized Allofix cortical bone pins for primary fixation of 40 first metatarsal distal chevron osteotomies and 30 digital arthrodeses in 42 patients. Radiographs of each patient were evaluated for the presence of graft incorporation, union of the osteotomy or fusion site, and postoperative migration of the osseous segments. In 70 procedures, the average time for graft incorporation as evaluated by the absence of graft visualization on radiographs was 4 months. Complications included one case of graft displacement. The results indicate that Allofix cortical bone pins are a reliable, safe, and effective method for the fixation of first metatarsal distal chevron osteotomies and phalangeal arthrodeses of the foot.