Normal Values of Metatarsal Parabola Arch in Male and Female Feet

Abstract

There is not any method to measure metatarsal protrusion in the whole metatarsal. The aim of this research is to know the normal metatarsal parabola in male and female feet. The system of measurement devised by Hardy and Clapham to evaluate the protrusion between metatarsals I and II was adapted to study the whole metatarsal parabola and applied to the five metatarsals of 169 normal feet, 72 female feet and 97 male feet. Authors measured all metatarsal protrusion relative to metatarsal II. The results obtained show a female metatarsal protrusion relative to metatarsal II of +1.27% for metatarsal I, −3.36% for metatarsal III, −8.34% for metatarsal IV, and −15.54% for metatarsal V. Data obtained for male metatarsal parabola were +0.5% for metatarsal I, −3.77 for metatarsal III, −9.57 for metatarsal IV, and −17.05 for metatarsal V. Differences between both metatarsal parabola were significant.

Metric and Non metric characteristics of human forefoot: A radiological study in Egyptian population

“…The highest significant correlation was between Mt3 and Mt4 (r=0.63) (Table 4). X ray procedures allow rapid, costless and easy visualization of skeletal system with little drawbacks (Domínguez-Maldonado et al, 2014). Ossification of bones of foot doesn't happen until age of 15 and 17 in male and female subjects respectively.…”

“…Size is the basic anatomical differences between the male and female skeletal system and this difference is well documented. For example, the male subjects have larger skulls with well-defined bony prominence such as glabella, supraorbital ridge, inion, occipital condyles, mastoid and styloid process, and men have bigger bones of the hindfoot and forefoot on the other hand female subjects have wider pelvic cavity (Domínguez-Maldonado et al, 2014). However, mean values obtained must be population based.…”

The pathology and management of lesser toe deformities

“…In the normal foot morphotype, the second metatarsal is the longest lesser metatarsal and the fifth is the shortest. The first metatarsal is often similar in length to the second 12 (square foot morphology), although it may be shorter (Greek type foot) or longer (Egyptian foot type). 13,14 The metatarsal heads form a normal distal cascade or parabola, which has been quantified by Maestro et al 15 If one or more metatarsals are relatively elongated or plantar-flexed, abnormal pressure and metatarsalgia may result.…”

The inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability of the Maestro and Barroco metatarsal length measurement techniques

“…However it is generally accepted that too long or too short metatarsal length can lead to forefoot pathologies [ 3 , 23 , 24 ]. Many forefoot corrective surgeries involve metatarsal shortening indicating a potential link between metatarsal length and forefoot pathologies [ 25 – 27 ].…”

“…To date, there is no gold standard radiographic method for measuring metatarsal lengths [ 21 ] and there is a lack of agreement between different measurements methods [ 22 , 23 , 36 ]. Morton’s transverse lines’ [ 5 ], Coughlin’s [ 33 ], Maestro’s [ 35 ] and Hardy and Clapham’s [ 3 , 10 ] methods are some of the commonly noted techniques in the literature [ 23 ]. Of these, Maestro’s technique is readily applicable to all five metatarsals along with a new un-validated method by Barroco et al [ 2 ].…”