Is It Necessary to Repair the Plantar Plate in the Management of Metatarsophalangeal Joint Instability?

Abstract

Lesser metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) instability is a common cause of metatarsalgia and is associated with plantar plate pathology. The instability is often due to chronic attenuation and attritional changes of the plantar plate and collateral ligaments, leading to eventual rupture. The plantar plate and collateral ligaments serve as the primary stabilizers of the MTPJ, and rupture or attenuation of these ligaments leads to instability. Surgical intervention is often necessary for plantar plate tears, with various approaches and techniques available.