Lateral Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Using Suture-tape for Chronic Varus Metatarsophalangeal Instability of The Hallux.

ABSTRACT

Chronic varus instability or recurrent subluxation following isolated metatarsophalangeal dislocation of the hallux is a rare injury. A young Judo athlete with a history of repetitive sport injuries complained of recurrent medial dislocation of the hallux for 3 years. For prior injuries, he underwent manual reduction under local anesthesia and recovered with splint immobilization. Physical examination and fluoroscopic radiograph demonstrated the reducible but unstable first metatarsophalangeal joint to slight varus stress, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an insufficient remnant of the lateral collateral ligament. For patients with the failed conservative treatment, no consensus has been reached regarding the best joint-salvage procedure to achieve a restoration of metatarsophalangeal stability and a fast return to sport activity. We report a case who achieved satisfactory clinical outcome through the collateral ligament reconstruction using a suture-tape.