Great toe sesamoid injuries in the athlete

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Podiatry

Background:

• Sesamoid bone injuries in the great toe are rare but can significantly impact athletic performance.
• Conditions like sesamoid stress fractures and sesamoiditis present diagnostic challenges due to limited controlled studies.
• Understanding sesamoid anatomy and congenital variations is crucial for accurate pathology identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on surgical and non-surgical treatment outcomes for great toe sesamoid injuries in athletes.
• To emphasize the importance of anatomical knowledge in diagnosing sesamoid pathologies.
• To address the lack of controlled studies comparing conservative versus operative interventions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on sesamoid injuries in athletes.
• Analysis of surgical and non-surgical treatment approaches.
• Examination of anatomical variations and their role in injury.

Main Results:

• Controlled studies comparing treatment outcomes are scarce due to the low incidence of these injuries.
• Familiarity with sesamoid bone anatomy and variations is essential for diagnosis.
• A review of current treatment strategies for sesamoid injuries is presented.

Conclusions:

• Great toe sesamoid injuries require careful diagnosis, often necessitating a deep understanding of anatomy.
• Further controlled studies are needed to establish optimal treatment protocols for sesamoid stress fractures and sesamoiditis in athletes.
• Current management strategies involve both conservative and surgical options, with outcomes varying based on injury type and individual factors.