Fifth Toe

Over-riding Fifth Toe

 

Deformity

 

5th toe adducted & overrides 4th toe

- extended, adducted & laterally rotated at MTPJ

 

Pathology

 

Toe arises more dorsally than it should

 

Contracture of EDL tendon

Contracted dorsal skin & dorsal MTPJ capsule

 

Aetiology

 

Usually congenital deformity

- toe usually hypoplastic

 

Clinical Features

 

Cosmetic deformity

Problems with footwear

Usually bilateral

Usually needs surgery (compared with underriding or curly)

 

Non-operative Management

 

Strapping & taping ineffective

Broad toe box

 

Operative Management

 

Mild / Moderate - Butler procedure 

- racquet shaped incision dorsally

- dorsal limb over extensor tendon

- circumferential limb must preserve NV bundle

- EDL and dorsal capsule divided

- toe swung back into position and sutured

 

Severe - Lapidus procedure 

- EDL transfer to AbDM

- curvilinear incision

- cut EDL over mid MT proximally leaving attached distally

- capsule release MTPJ

- tendon transferred medial, plantar and laterally around P1

- sutured to abductor digit minimi

 

Underriding fifth toe

 

Opposite deformity of above

 

Thompson excisional arthroplasty

- Z incision laterally over P1

- proximal phalanx resection and capsule imbrication

- K wire

 

Cock Up Deformity 

 

Deformity

- of MTP 

- realign at MTPJ & IPJ

- usually hammer toe deformity as well

 

Surgical Algorithm

 

Mild to moderate 

- extensor tenotomy & fixed hammer toe repair

 

Severe 

- Ruiz-Mora procedure

- resection arthroplasty of proximal phalanx

- elliptical plantar incision with proximal phalyngectomy

 

Salvage

- end up with floppy toe 

- syndactylisation may be salvage

- but swapping one deformity for another