Medial capsulo-ligamentous complex plasty of the second metatarsophalangeal joint in the treatment of static foot deformities

Abstract

Introduction Improving the approaches to treating patients with hammer toe deformity is a relevant task. The problems of its management are a lack of uniform approaches to treatment, a significant number of complications and low patient satisfaction with the results of treatment. A frequent complication of its surgical treatment is a residual abduction deformity of the second toe. However, the available literature does not adequately cover the treatment of this pathology, and the methods of surgical correction have serious shortcomings. In this regard, the aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of the original method for correcting the abduction deformity of the second toe. The proposed approach is based on strengthening the medial capsuloligamentous structures of the metatarsophalangeal joint with the tendon of the brevis extensor digitorum muscle. Material and methods Treatment of 26 (100 %) patients operated for abduction deformity of the second toe at the Novosibirsk Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics in 2016 and 2017 was analyzed. The index group included 15 (58 %) patients in whom the residual deformity was corrected according to the method proposed. In the comparison group of 11 (42 %) patients, the capsulotomy method of the second metatarsophalangeal joint with transarticular Kirschner wire fixation was used. The study utilised clinical, radiological, surgical, functional and statistical methods. Final treatment results were evaluated one year after the operations. Results The use of the traditional method of abduction deformity correction in the comparison group demonstrated its extremely low efficiency. On the other hand, in the index group there were 13 (86.6 %) good results, one (6.7 %) was fair and one (6.7 %) was poor. Discussion Many authors state the importance of restoring the capsulo-ligamentous complex of the metatarsophalangeal joint while correcting the toe deformity in the plantar plane. The method proposed by us enables to avoid residual deformities due to a number of technical merits with good clinical and functional results.