Fixation of a syndesmotic injury with a single suture-button construct did not restore physiological fibular motion, which may have implications for postoperative care and clinical outcomes.

Adequate harvest length for FHL transfer could be achieved with a single posterior incision. There was no difference in strength of fixation between suture anchor and biotenodesis screw.

Objective: To present 3 cases of plantar-plate rupture and turf-toe injury in contact athletes at 1 university and to discuss appropriate diagnosis and treatment algorithms for each case.Background: Turf toe is a common injury in athletes participating in outdoor cutting sports. However, it has been used as an umbrella term to describe many different injuries of the great toe. In some cases, the injury can be so severe that the plantar plate and sesamoid apparatus may be ruptured. These patients may be better managed with surgery than with traditional nonoperative interventions.Differential Diagnosis: Turf toe, plantar-plate disruption, sesamoid fracture.Treatment: For stable injuries in which the plantar plate is not completely disrupted, nonoperative treatment with casting or a stiff-soled shoe, gradual weight bearing, and rehabilitation is the best practice. Unstable injuries require surgical intervention and plantar-plate repair.Uniqueness: Turf toe and injury to the first metatarsophalangeal joint are relatively common injuries in athletes, but few researchers have detailed the operative and nonoperative treatments of plantar-plate disruption in these patients. We examine 3 cases that occurred over 4 seasons on a collegiate football team.Conclusions: Turf toe represents a wide array of pathologic conditions involving the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Stress and instability testing are key components to assess in determining whether surgical intervention is warranted to restore optimal function. Stiffer-soled shoes or shoes with steel-plate insertions may help to prevent these injuries and are useful tools for protection during the rehabilitation period.Key Words: metatarsophalangeal joint, great toe, football players T urf toe is a common injury in athletes participating in outdoor cutting sports. Clanton and Ford 1 reported that injury to the foot was the third leading cause of missed athletic participation. Damage to the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) represents a large percentage of those injuries. However, since Bowers and Martin 2 coined the term turf toe, it has been a poorly studied topic of substantial controversy. They originally described turf toe as a sprain to the first MTPJ, but in many instances, the injury has been attributed incorrectly to various pathologic conditions involving the first ray.2 Turf toe historically has been managed nonoperatively with a stiff-soled shoe or short walking boot. Yet in severe cases, the plantar plate may be ruptured and disrupted. These injuries are easy to overlook on physical examination. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to review 3 cases of injury to the plantar plate of the first MTPJ in contact athletes and to focus on diagnosis and treatment of the more severe toe injuries. CASE REPORTS Case 1A 21-year-old running back participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football injured his left great toe during his first carry of the game. He was cutting on a FieldTurf (FieldTurf, Calhoun, GA) playing surface when he ...

Level III, comparative series.

A minimally invasive, arthroscopic approach can be considered for treating patients with lateral ankle instability who have failed conservative treatment.