Chronic and recurrent dislocations of the fifth toe

Area of Science:

• Podiatric Surgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology

Background:

• Chronic and recurrent dislocations of the fifth toe are uncommon, often resulting from minor trauma.
• Delayed diagnosis or undertreatment by healthcare providers frequently contributes to the chronicity of the condition.
• Patients present years after the initial injury with significant functional impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cases of chronic and recurrent fifth toe dislocations.
• To describe the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes.
• To highlight the importance of accurate diagnosis and timely intervention.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of ten cases with chronic and recurrent fifth toe dislocations.
• Analysis of patient history, clinical findings, and treatment modalities.
• Surgical treatment involved resection of the proximal phalanx head/neck and/or syndactyly.

Main Results:

• All cases involved forceful abduction of the fifth toe, often while barefoot.
• Clinical patterns included fixed abduction deformity or recurrent dislocation.
• Surgical treatment yielded uniformly excellent results with resolution of symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Chronic fifth toe dislocations require surgical correction for optimal outcomes.
• Resection of the proximal phalanx and/or syndactyly are effective treatment options.
• Early recognition and management are crucial to prevent long-term morbidity.