Juvenile hallux valgus. A conservative approach to treatment.

A conservative method consisting of use of a thermoplastic splint at night as well as passive and active exercises was used for the treatment of hallux valgus in fifty-six children and teen-agers who were between one month and sixteen years old. The splint was remodeled periodically. At the time of follow-up, which ranged from two to six years, the metatarsophalangeal joint angle or the intermetatarsal angle, or both, had improved in approximately half of the feet. No recurrences were detected among the patients who improved.