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Ankle Joint

Ankle Joint

The ankle is formed by the talocrural joint (crural = leg). It consists of the articulations between the talus bone of the foot and the distal ends of the tibia and fibula of the leg. The superior aspect of the talus bone is square-shaped and has three areas of articulation. The top of the talus articulates with the inferior tibia. This is the portion of the ankle joint that carries the body weight between the leg and foot. The sides of the talus are firmly held in position by the articulations...

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Updated: Jun 28, 2025

An Anatomical Study of Nerves at Risk During Minimally Invasive Hallux Valgus Surgery

An Anatomical Study of Nerves at Risk During Minimally Invasive Hallux Valgus Surgery

Published on: February 17, 2018

A Simplified Preoperative Radiographic Assessment for Metatarsus Adductus Associated With Hallux Valgus.

Jody P McAleer¹, William T DeCarbo², Robert D Santrock³

¹Jefferson City Medical Group, Jefferson City, Missouri.

Foot & Ankle Specialist

|April 23, 2024

Summary

The Plumbline (PL) radiographic method simplifies metatarsus adductus (MTA) assessment in hallux valgus (HV) patients. This technique offers a clear visual reference, eliminating the need for complex angle measurements to identify MTA.

Keywords:

Hallux valgus Metatarsus adductus Plumbline Sgarlato angle

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Evaluating the Function of the Foot Core System in the Elderly

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Published on: March 11, 2022

Area of Science:

Orthopedic Surgery
Radiology
Foot and Ankle Deformities

Background:

Radiographic assessment of metatarsus adductus (MTA) lacks standardized interpretation and clear surgical indications.
Existing methods require complex measurements, leading to variability in diagnosing MTA, particularly in conjunction with hallux valgus (HV).
A simplified, reliable radiographic assessment for MTA is needed to guide surgical decisions in HV patients.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the efficacy of the "Plumbline" (PL) radiographic assessment method for identifying metatarsus adductus (MTA).
To determine if the PL method can ascertain the availability of space for first metatarsal alignment without lesser metatarsal realignment.
To compare the PL method's diagnostic capability against traditional radiographic angles in patients with hallux valgus (HV) and MTA.

Main Methods:

Retrospective review of 45 neutral weight-bearing AP radiographs from patients undergoing surgery for isolated HV or combined MTA/HV.
Patients were grouped based on Sgarlato's angle (SA) of 15°: HV-only group (n=23) and MTA group (n=22).
The "Plumbline" (PL) radiographic assessment was applied to all radiographs, correlating findings with SA measurements.

Main Results:

Mean preoperative SA was 8.7° for the HV-only group and 26.6° for the MTA group.
All patients with SA ≤ 15° (n=22) demonstrated a negative PL (100% concordance).
All patients with SA > 15° (n=23) demonstrated a positive PL (100% concordance), indicating MTA.

Conclusions:

The "Plumbline" (PL) radiographic technique offers a simple and visually intuitive method for diagnosing metatarsus adductus (MTA) in hallux valgus (HV) patients.
The PL method effectively determines the presence of MTA without requiring traditional radiographic angle measurements.
This diagnostic approach aids in assessing the feasibility of first metatarsal alignment in the context of combined foot deformities.