Arthroscopy of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint

Small Joint Arthroscopy of the Foot

Recently, there have been new advances in the arthroscopic approach to small joints of the foot. This is directly related to the improvement of surgical equipment, new techniques, and publications. These improvements led to broadening indications as well as minimizing complications. Several articles recently presented the uses of arthroscopic surgery in the small joints of the foot; however, the use is still relatively limited. Arthroscopic evaluation of the small joints of the foot includes the first metatarsophalangeal, lesser metatarsophalangeal, tarsometatarsal, talonavicular, and calcaneocuboid joints as well as the interphalangeal joint to the great toe and lesser toes.

Arthroscopic Repair of Chronic Plantar Plate Tears of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint: A New Surgical Technique With Patient Outcomes

Background

Most plantar plate tears of the first metatarsophalangeal joint can be treated successfully by nonoperative means. Primary repair may be indicated to restore continuity of the plantar structures and joint stability. Inadequate or failed nonoperative treatment may cause persistent pain and disability and thereby represent a career-threatening injury to an athlete. The chronic plantar plate tears are difficult both to diagnose and to treat. When surgical treatment is indicated, traditionally a wide plantar or 2 parallel incisions are used. An arthroscopic approach allows for verification and visualization of the injury and, at the same time, repair of the injury.

Purpose

To describe findings of plantar plate tears, present a new arthroscopic procedure for plantar plate tear repair, and present the outcomes after surgery.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

This was a retrospective study on the first 10 patients treated with the arthroscopic technique. The patients underwent surgery between June 2017 and January 2021. Patient data, clinical symptoms and findings, and operative details were obtained from the patient records. Patients were contacted via email to complete patient-reported outcome measures (Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire [MOxFQ] and Numeric Rating Scale [NRS] for pain).

Results

Four female and 6 male patients with a median age of 24 years (range, 12-44 years) were operated on at a median of 20 months (range, 2-38 months) after injury. Of the 10 patients, 8 had a hyperextension injury of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and 7 had a subtle valgus malalignment of the hallux; 8 patients were injured during sport activity. All patients reported plantar pain at pushoff. All but 1 patient returned to the same level of preinjury activity within 6 months. At a median of 29 months (range, 7-49 months) after surgery, the median MOxFQ score was 6 (range, 0-41) and the median NRS pain score was 0.

Conclusion

Arthroscopic plantar plate repair of chronic plantar plate tears resulted in a high rate of return to activity/sport and excellent outcome scores.

Arthroscopic accessibility of the first metatarsophalangeal joint for osteochondral defects of the metatarsal head by two-portal technique - comparing joint distraction and plantarflexion

BACKGROUND

Several techniques and approaches for first metatarsophalangeal (MTP1) joint arthroscopy have been reported, where joint accessibility plays a key role. This study aimed to evaluate differences in arthroscopic accessibility of the first metatarsal head (MTH1) comparing non-invasive distraction and maximum plantarflexion in a two-portal approach.

METHODS

Forty fresh-frozen lower leg specimens were included and divided into a distraction group (D-group) and a plantarflexion group (PF-group). A two-portal technique (1.9 mm-30°-scope) was used for arthroscopy, maximum reach at the MTH1 was marked. Following arthroscopy, specimens were dissected and examined for iatrogenic injuries. The reached area at the chondral surface was pinned and accessibility calculated.

RESULTS

Accessibility of the MTH1 was 58.03 % ± 13.64 (D-group) and 55.93 % ± 10.30 (PF-group, p = 0.51). The dorsomedial hallucal nerve was injured in one specimen (2.5 %).

CONCLUSION

Maximum plantarflexion showed no difference in arthroscopic MTP1 joint accessibility compared to non-invasive distraction in a two-portal approach. During dorsomedial portal placement, the dorsomedial hallucal nerve is at risk for iatrogenic injury.

Arthroscopic Autologous Bone Grafting for Hallux Sesamoid Fracture Nonunion Results in a High Rate of Complete Resolution

Purpose

To review the outcomes of patients with hallux sesamoid fracture nonunion who underwent arthroscopic autologous bone grafting.

Methods

Medical records of patients who underwent surgery between July 2017 and April 2020 were reviewed. The inclusion criterion was 2 years or more of follow-up. The exclusion criterion was less than 2 years of follow-up. Outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) score. Improvements after surgery were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

Eleven patients (3 women and 8 men) were enrolled. The mean age was 18.6 years (standard deviation [SD] ± 10.3 years), and the mean body mass index was 21.9 kg/m² (SD ± 2.5 kg/m²). The mean follow-up duration was 3.2 years (SD ± 0.8 years). One patient had fracture nonunion in the fibular sesamoid and a hypoplastic tibial sesamoid. Another patient had fracture nonunion in the distal part of the congenital bipartite sesamoid. The other patients had fracture nonunion in the normal tibial sesamoids. The mean duration until bone union was 2.9 months (SD ± 0.8 months). The mean duration until returning to sports was 5.3 months (SD ± 3.6 months). The VAS score improved from 72.1 (SD ± 15.2) preoperatively to 12.0 (SD ± 26.7) postoperatively. The JSSF score improved from 58.7 (SD ± 15.8) preoperatively to 95.0 (SD ± 11.0) postoperatively (P < 0.01, respectively). All patients except the two previously described achieved a VAS score of 0 and a JSSF score of 100 postoperatively. The remaining 2 patients with congenitally distinct sesamoids and fractures had poor outcomes. No complications were observed.

Conclusions

Nine of the 11 patients reported complete resolution. The remaining two patients with congenitally distinct sesamoids and fractures had poor outcomes.

Needle Arthroscopy Cheilectomy for Hallux Rigidus in the Office Setting

Hallux rigidus is a progressive degenerative process of the first metatarsophalangeal joint characterized by altered joint mechanics and formation of dorsal osteophytes. Cheilectomy is the preferred operative intervention at early stages. Technologic advances, patient preference, and cost considerations combine to stimulate the development of minimally invasive and in-office interventions. This Technical Note highlights our technique for needle arthroscopy cheilectomy for hallux rigidus, which can be used either in the operating room or in the wide-awake office setting.

Arthroscopic Sesamoidectomy for Hallux Sesamoid Disorders

In this retrospective case series, we aimed to study arthroscopic sesamoidectomy, including surgical methods, clinical outcomes, and complications. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with hallux sesamoid disorders who underwent arthroscopic sesamoidectomy from July 2015 to July 2017. The visual analog scale for rating pain, Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot scale scores, number of days taken to return to normal daily living, number of months taken to return to playing sports, and complications were analyzed. The mean follow-up duration was 3.2 years. Among 14 patients, there were 8 females and 6 males (median age: 39 years). The mean visual analog scale score improved from 75.4 to 14.3 mm; the mean Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot score improved from 55.2 to 88.0 points. The mean time to return to activities of daily living was 5.3 days. Among the 5 patients who played sports, 3 and 2 patients resumed playing sports at 3 and 12 postoperative months, respectively. Complications included wound pain (n = 4), discomfort in severe weather (n = 4), numbness (n = 3), pain in the sole other than in the ball of the foot (n = 2), pain during hallux dorsiflexion (n = 2), residual sesamoid discomfort (n = 1), swelling (n = 1), toe-in gait (n = 1), and metatarsal head bone marrow edema (n = 1). Despite good clinical outcomes of arthroscopic sesamoidectomy, patients should be made aware of the many potential complications of this procedure prior to surgery.

Great Toe Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthroscopy: Simple Technique for Painful Nonunion

Great toe metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthroscopy was first described as a viable technique for a multitude of first MTPJ pathologies in the early 1970s; however, with improving arthroscopic technique and technology, these indications will continue to expand. Arthroscopy of the first MTPJ has increasingly become a new pursuit for foot and ankle specialists. Therefore, we have proposed a simple technique and illustration from our operating room setup to traction and to our procedural technique to make great toe arthroscopy simple and reproducible for arthroscopic foot and ankle surgeons.

Joint Preparation and Ray Shortening in Arthroscopic Versus Open First Metatarsophalangeal Fusion: A Cadaver Study

Purpose This study compares the amount of joint preparation and first ray shortening following first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint fusion utilizing open conical reaming versus arthroscopic technique. Methods Ten below-knee cadaver specimens were randomly assigned to undergo either open or arthroscopic first MTP fusion. Following fixation, first ray length measurements were obtained from pre-operative and post-operative radiographs and were used to determine first ray shortening. Additionally, the ratio of first ray length to second ray length was calculated both pre-operatively and post-operatively and compared between the two approaches. All ankles were then completely dissected, and prepared surface areas were demarcated. ImageJ photo analysis software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) was used to calculate the percentage of prepared and unprepared cartilage of each articular surface of each specimen.  Results Overall, the open approach resulted in 99.3% ± 1.6% joint surface preparation, whereas the arthroscopic approach yielded 92.9% ± 7.2% (p = 0.089). On average, the head of the first metatarsal was significantly more prepared with the use of the open approach (99.5% ± 1.1%) than with the arthroscopic approach (96.6% ± 1.5%) (p = 0.008). However, with respect to the base of the phalanx, the average difference in preparation between the arthroscopic approach and the open approach was not statistically significant (90.0% ± 12.8% vs. 99.0% ± 2.2%; p = 0.160). The average amount of first ray shortening in the arthroscopic approach was 2.2 ± 1.8 mm compared to 2.1 ± 3.2 mm in the open approach (p = 0.934). The average change in the first to second ray length ratio was 0.02 for both approaches (p = 0.891). Conclusion Arthroscopic first MTP fusion can be used to achieve joint preparation comparable to open technique while maintaining first ray length.