Many of the fair and poor results are directly traceable to errors in technique. Patient selection is also important. The operation can be done in adolescents since there is no growth plate at the distal end of the first metatarsal. We do not currently recommend this procedure for those over 60, for those with first metatarsophalangeal osteoarthritis or hallux rigidus or for those with moderate or severe rheumatoid arthritis. For these patients we usually do a Keller excisional arthroplasty. Our use of the osteotomy-bunionectomy operation for the patient with hallux valgus with an associated metatarsalgia or short first metatarsal has now become more cautious. We feel that the operation is not indicated for those with significant preoperative metatarsalgia, especially if the first metatarsal is shorter than the second, or for those whose first metatarsal is more than 4 or 5 millimeters shorter than the second, regardless of preoperative metatarsalgia. In these patients a McBride procedure or a proximal opening-wedge osteotomy is done.