Skip to main content

AKIN OSTEOTOMY

Method
Medial wedge removal (Akin osteotomy) to correct the axis of the big toe
Duration
20 to 40 minutes
Recovery time
6 to 10 weeks

What is an Akin osteotomy?

The Akin osteotomy is a surgical procedure for correcting a hallux valgus and is often carried out in combination with a chevron osteotomy. A medial wedge is removed from the proximal phalanx of the big toe in order to correct the deviation of the toe axis. It is used above all where there is a pronounced hallux interphalangeus component, that is, where the toe is bent within the proximal phalanx as well as deviating at the metatarsal.

An Akin osteotomy can restore the straight alignment of the big toe and improve how pressure is distributed across the forefoot. The procedure is usually minimally invasive and is fixed with a small screw or a wire. The technique is reliable, gentle on the tissue and often carried out as a day case.

How the operation proceeds

  • Small incision on the inner side of the big toe
  • Exposure of the proximal phalanx
  • Removal of a wedge-shaped piece of bone to correct the axis
  • Bringing the bone edges together and fixing them with a screw
  • Additional soft-tissue correction where needed

Rehabilitation after an Akin osteotomy

Aftercare depends on the extent of the correction carried out and on any accompanying procedures. Good co-operation from patients is decisive for a lastingly stable result.

Phase I (0-2 weeks): immobilisation and wound healing
  • Wearing a forefoot offloading shoe
  • Elevation and cooling to reduce swelling
  • Checks on wound healing and changes of dressing
  • No active weight-bearing through the big toe
Phase II (2-6 weeks): partial weight-bearing and mobilisation
  • Continuing with the special shoe, changing to flat footwear where appropriate
  • Physiotherapy to mobilise the metatarsophalangeal joint
  • Beginning functional weight-bearing with a correct roll-off pattern
  • Activating the short muscles of the foot
Phase III (6-12 weeks): building up load and returning to everyday life
  • Returning to everyday walking, normal footwear permitted
  • Stabilising the muscles and gait training
  • Avoiding tight, pinching shoes for several months
  • Sporting activity once medically cleared