The first cuneometatarsal joint exostosis. Clinical and etiological considerations

Endoscopic Resection of Dorsal Boss of the Second and Third Tarsometatarsal Joints

Dorsal boss of the foot also known as "tarsal boss," "dorsal exostosis," and "humped bone" is a bone spur that grows from one of the intertarsal or tarsometatarsal joints. It can occur with or without arthritis of the underlying joints. Surgery is indicated if the symptoms do not respond to conservative treatment. Excision of the dorsal boss with or without fusion of the underlying joint is the operative treatment of choice. We report an arthroscopic approach of resection of the dorsal exostosis. Arthroscopic arthrodesis if indicated can be performed through the same portals.

Surgical Outcomes for Resection of the Dorsal Exostosis of the Metatarsocuneiform Joints

A retrospective case series testing the efficacy of surgical resection of the dorsal exostosis deformity of the metatarsocuneiform joints was performed. Surgery was performed in 26 consecutive patients (28 feet), in whom previous conservative therapy had failed. All 26 patients had bursitis at the level of the dorsal exostosis deformity. The patients were separated into 2 groups: group 1, those with bursitis and neuritis before surgery (n = 13; 46.4%), and group 2, those with bursitis without neuritis (n = 15; 53.5%). Both groups were evaluated using an 11-point visual analog scale administered preoperatively and ≤1 year postoperatively. The mean pain rating in the patients with neuritis and bursitis before surgery (7.31 ± 2.8) and in those with bursitis without neuritis (6.67 ± 3.4) had both decreased to 0 at 6 months and 1 year after surgery. After surgery, 7 patients (25.2%) experienced neuritis. Of these 7 patients, 4 (57.1%) had continuation of neuritis that was present before surgery and 3 (42.9%) had an onset of neuropraxia that was secondary to the surgery itself. This might have resulted from retraction of the nerves during spur removal. Eventually, all the cases of neuritis resolved. One patient (3.6%) experienced regrowth of their dorsal exostosis deformity, 1 (3.6%) developed an abscess at the surgical site, and 1 (3.6%) developed pain elsewhere at the Lisfranc joint. All patients were subsequently treated at our institution and were pain free and had returned to full activity within 1 year. These results suggest that resection of the dorsal exostosis deformity of the metatarsocuneiform joints is an effective surgical procedure for patients with this deformity.