An Unusual Combination of Injuries Involving Lateral Dislocation of the First and Fifth Metatarsophalangeal Joints Along With Fractures of the Other Toes on the Same Foot: A Report of a Rare Case
Dislocations of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints following trauma are uncommon and often underreported. Most documented cases involve the first MTP joint, or occasionally one or two of the lesser MTP joints, with the direction of dislocation predominantly dorsal. The rarity of these injuries, particularly those affecting multiple joints or exhibiting atypical patterns, poses challenges in both diagnosis and management. In some instances, diagnosis is difficult without imaging. Prompt reduction is essential to prevent neurovascular complications. MTP joint dislocations can be reduced using either closed or open methods, depending on the presence of soft tissue interposition. This case describes a 23-year-old patient who sustained a rare combination of pure lateral dislocations of the first and fifth MTP joints, along with multiple metatarsal fractures, following a road traffic accident. Reduction, immobilization, and rehabilitation led to a favorable outcome. The aim of this article is to describe our treatment strategy and to provide an overview of the existing literature on these unusual injuries.
Authors
- Georges F Bassil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6612-8416)
- Zied Missaoui
- Mohamed Jiddi
Institutions
- Centre Hospitalier Sud Francilien (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-10-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.95287
- Primary Topic
- Foot and Ankle Surgery
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00