The pathology and management of lesser toe deformities

[摘要] Deformities of the lesser toes are a frequently-encountered condition associated with significant morbidity. Data from the Swedish registries suggests that almost a quarter of patients undergoing forefoot surgery had lesser toe procedures performed.1 Despite the prevalence of lesser toe conditions there are few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of various treatments, and current surgical practice is largely based on the results of retrospective case series. Each patient, and indeed each toe, is unique and in order to choose the most appropriate treatment strategy a thorough understanding of the anatomy and pathology of lesser toe deformities is required. We discuss the basic anatomy of the lesser toes and the pathology of some of the more common deformities. We then summarise the current treatment strategies for management of these deformities.

[学科分类] 神经科学

[关键词] lesser toes;toe deformities;claw toe;hammer toe;mallet toe