[Our experience with surgery of the rheumatoid metatarsus. 150 cases]

The authors report on the results of their experience with surgery of the rheumatoid metatarsus (95 patients operated on--150 operations). The operation most frequently performed was the Lelievre metatarsian resection-alignment. They confirm the advantage of this type of surgery, which provides very handicapped patients with substantial relief, both of pain and of the functional troubles, despite the nature of the disease involved. Out of 80 patients operated on and followed up over a period of 2 to 14 years, and considering the correction of the deformities, the effect on pain and functional troubles, the authors report 103 very good and good results, and 18 poor results and failures. The good results obtained deteriorate only very little in the long run: after 10 years, the very good and good results involving effect on pain, has gone from 96 to 90%. On the other hand, as far as functional troubles are concerned, very good and good results go from 90% to 70%. The authors underline the advantage of a very through examination, in order to look for post-operatory risk factors (peripheral circulatory deficiency and poor resistance to infection). They insist for exercising great prudence when advising an operation consisting of the interposition of an endoprosthesis (Swanson's implant). Indeed, in subjects who are in any way fragile, delays in scarification, related to hematomas complicated or not with skin necrosis appear with increased frequency after interposition of the implant.