Treatment of Freiberg Disease

Freiberg disease, or osteochondrosis of the lesser metatarsal head, usually involves the second metatarsal and presents during the second or third decades of life. Conservative measures to relieve pressure on the affected metatarsal head are the first-line treatments, with good success for Smillie stage I to III disease. Operative treatments are divided into joint-preserving and joint-reconstructing procedures. Although multiple case series describe success with numerous techniques, there are no established guidelines for treatment. All surgical techniques carry a risk of a stiff or floating toe and transfer metatarsalgia. This article reviews the current surgical treatment options for Freiberg disease.