Nonoperative treatment of metatarsophalangeal joint synovitis

The results of nonoperative treatment of metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint synovitis in 13 patients without known rheumatologic conditions (15 joints) were reviewed. Average duration of forefoot pain was 4 +/- 3 months (range 0.5-12 months), except for one patient who had pain for 30 months. The second MP joint was involved in nine cases (60%), and the third was involved in six cases (40%). Examination revealed tenderness and palpable fullness of the MP joint in all cases; painful dorsal drawer sign was present in 10 cases (67%), adjacent interdigital tenderness in six cases (40%), and hammertoe deformity in eight cases (53%). Treatment included intra-articular corticosteroid injection and rocker-sole show modification to limit MP joint dorsiflexion. At follow-up evaluation (18 +/- 9 months, range 4-26 months), the involved MP joint was asymptomatic in nine joints (60%), improved or almost asymptomatic in five joints (33%), and operated in one (7%) joint. Two of seven (29%) joints not initially associated with hammertoe developed a mild hammertoe deformity from time of diagnosis to follow-up. In conclusion, nonoperative treatment can be effective for MP joint synovitis, and the incidence of progressive hammertoe deformity in successfully treated cases is low.