A simple surgical technique for treatment of Freiberg's disease

Abstract

BackgroundOf all the osteochondrosis, Freiberg's disease is reported to be the fourth most common, exceeded by Köhler's disease, Panner's disease, and Sever's disease. This disease usually occurs in the 2nd metatarsal head and relatively in the 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of debridement, synovectomy, dorsal closing wedge osteotomy and pin fixation for Freiberg's disease treatment. MethodsTen female patients, mean age 18.3 years; (ranged 14–24 years) were treated by the above mentioned technique. The main presenting symptom was pain on walking or sport; affected their daily life and activities and was not improved by non-surgical treatment. The second metatarsal head was affected in all patients. Halve of patients had a history of trauma. According to Smillie's classification, four patients were type V and six patients were type IV. Mean follow-up period was 19.2 months (range 6–36 months). ResultsWere assessed by the Lesser Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal (LMPI)Scale by Kitaoka et al. At the final follow up, scoring was changed from (44–76) with an average 57 to (66–100) with an average 80. There was no case of infection, avascular necrosis, arthritis or pseudoarthrosis. ConclusionWe founded that dorsiflexion osteotomy of the metatarsal head is presented as a logical procedure that is simple, reliable, not destructive, and capable of good results regardless of the stage of the disease.