Rupture of the Flexor Hallucis Longus after Hallux Valgus Surgery: Case Report and Comments on Technique for Adductor Release

Abstract

A case of flexor hallucis longus (FHL) rupture following hallux valgus surgery is reported here. The authors conjecture that the FHL rupture was caused by a partial laceration of the FHL at the time of the surgical hallux valgus correction. The authors treated the painful problem by surgically debriding the distal stump of the FHL from under the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MP) and ten-odesing the the proximal stump to the flexor digitorum longus (FDL). The authors describe a technique that minimizes the complications of an adductor tenotomy associated with a distal chevron type of hallux valgus correction.