Metatarsophalangeal Arthritis Research Articles

Effect of Turf Toe on Foot Contact Pressures in Professional American Football Players

The relationship between turf toe and plantar foot pressures has not been extensively studied. Two hypotheses were tested in a cohort of professional American football players: first, that a history of turf toe is associated with increased peak hallucal and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) plantar pressures; second, that decreased range of motion (ROM) of the first MTP correlates with increased peak hallucal and first MTP plantar pressures. Forty-four athletes from one National Football League (NFL) team were screened for a history of turf toe during preseason training. Dorsal passive MTP ROM and dynamic plantar pressures were measured in both feet of each player. Anatomical masking was used to assess peak pressure at the first MTP and hallux. First MTP dorsiflexion was significantly lower in halluces with a history of turf toe (40.6 +/- 15.1 degrees versus 48.4 +/- 12.8 degrees, p = 0.04). Peak hallucal pressures were higher in athletes with turf toe (535 +/- 288 kPa versus 414 +/- 202 kPa, p = 0.05) even after normalizing for athlete body mass index (p = 0.0003). Peak MTP pressure was not significantly different between the two groups tested. First MTP dorsiflexion did not correlate with peak hallucal or first MTP pressures. This study showed that turf toe is associated with decreased MTP motion. In addition, increased peak hallucal pressures were found. Further study is warranted to determine whether these pressures correlate with the severity of symptoms or progression of turf toe to first MTP arthritis.

Effect of Turf Toe on Foot Contact Pressures in Professional American Football Players

The relationship between turf toe and plantar foot pressures has not been extensively studied. Two hypotheses were tested in a cohort of professional American football players: first, that a history of turf toe is associated with increased peak hallucal and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) plantar pressures; second, that decreased range of motion (ROM) of the first MTP correlates with increased peak hallucal and first MTP plantar pressures.Forty-four athletes from one National Football League (NFL) team were screened for a history of turf toe during preseason training. Dorsal passive MTP ROM and dynamic plantar pressures were measured in both feet of each player. Anatomical masking was used to assess peak pressure at the first MTP and hallux.First MTP dorsiflexion was significantly lower in halluces with a history of turf toe (40.6 +/- 15.1 degrees versus 48.4 +/- 12.8 degrees, p = 0.04). Peak hallucal pressures were higher in athletes with turf toe (535 +/- 288 kPa versus 414 +/- 202 kPa, p = 0.05) even after normalizing for athlete body mass index (p = 0.0003). Peak MTP pressure was not significantly different between the two groups tested. First MTP dorsiflexion did not correlate with peak hallucal or first MTP pressures.This study showed that turf toe is associated with decreased MTP motion. In addition, increased peak hallucal pressures were found. Further study is warranted to determine whether these pressures correlate with the severity of symptoms or progression of turf toe to first MTP arthritis.

Seudopodagra séptica por Streptococcus agalactiae

Pseudopodagra is an unusual cause of first metatarsophalangeal arthritis. There are multiple causes, and an infectious cause always has to be excluded. We report a septic pseudopodagra by Streptococcus agalactiae in a patient with chronic hepatopathy with an indolent evolution and a consequent delay in diagnosis. Antibiotic treatment was installed with a favourable outcome without functional sequelae. The pseudopodagra reports in the bibliography are reviewed with special attention on those of infectious aetiology.

Hallux metatarsophalangeal arthritis.

Arthritis of the hallux metatarsophalangeal joint is a common disorder that affects shoewear, ambulation, and other activities of daily living. Etiologies include degenerative arthritis (hallux rigidus), crystal induced arthropathy (gout, pseudogout), rheumatoid arthritis, the seronegative spondyloathropathies, posttraumatic degeneration, and advanced hallux valgus. Accurate diagnosis and selection of the appropriate intervention depends on recognition of pertinent clinical and radiographic features. This study presents a synopsis of the senior author's (LCS) experience with 439 surgically treated patients with hallux metatarsophalangeal arthritis, focusing on origin and treatment.

Detection of plantar tenosynovitis of the forefoot by ultrasound in patients with early arthritis.

Clinical examination, dorsoplantar radiographs and transverse sonographic scans of the plantar region of the forefoot were performed on 35 healthy individuals as well as 25 patients with inflammatory joint disease and forefoot symptoms. The ultrasound revealed twenty plantar flexor tenosynovitides in 12 of the 25 patients. In 14 out of the 20 tenosynovitides there was no metatarsophalangeal effusion in the same digit. Thus, also plantar tenosynovitis and not only metatarsophalangeal arthritis can promote symptoms of the forefoot. Only in eight of the 20 tenosynovitides the clinical examination was positive. Ultrasound is a more objective procedure than clinical examination in diagnosing plantar tenosynovitis. This finding has not only a diagnostic but also a therapeutic implication.