Metatarsal Osteotomy versus Metatarsal Head Resection for Distal Diabetic Foot Ulcers

We compared the effectiveness of metatarsal osteotomy, specifically using the osteoclasis (OC) technique, with that of metatarsal head resection (MHR) in healing distal metatarsal plantar ulcers.

This retrospective study reviewed patients who underwent OC or MHR for the treatment of submetatarsal ulcers between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017. Patients with infected ulcers or osteomyelitis were excluded. A 1-year follow-up was used to evaluate the results.

Of the 31 study patients (seven women and 24 men; mean ± SD age, 55.3 ± 11.7 years), 17 underwent MHR and 14 underwent OC. All of the patients had diabetic neuropathy and distal submetatarsal ulcer. Four of 17 patients in the MHR group and three of 14 patients in the OC group had moderate peripheral vascular disease. All of the patients in the MHR group healed their ulcers in a mean ± SD of 5.8 ± 2.3 weeks. During 12-month follow-up of the MHR group, one patient needed revision, one developed a transfer ulcer, and two developed toe ulcers. In the OC group, all of the patients healed after surgery in a mean ± SD of 4.2 ± 1.8 weeks. During the 12-month follow-up of the OC group, one patient developed Charcot's neuropathy and two developed transfer ulcers.

For metatarsal head neuropathic ulcers, both OC and MHR achieved healing in a relatively short time, with few complications. A prospective study with a larger patient population is needed to better compare the two procedures.