High-resolution ultrasound in the preoperative and postoperative assessment of distal metatarsal osteotomy. Preliminary report.
High-resolution sonography was used to study eight patients with suspected plantarflexed metatarsals and associated painful pedal callousities to determine metatarsal head position as the etiology of the pressure keratosis. Ultrasonography demonstrated a plantarflexed metatarsal head in all eight patients. Using both 5 and 10 MHz transducers, the plantarflexed metatarsal position could be accurately assessed and thus could aid in determining the degree of surgical correction necessary to properly realign the depressed metatarsal. Ultrasonography also allowed a noninvasive and accurate assessment of the surgical correction postoperatively in five of the eight patients. This preliminary study suggests that high-resolution sonography has applicability in accurately assessing metatarsal position. In addition, this new technique is noninvasive and presents insights concerning the amount of surgical correction necessary for realignment without increased risk or pain to the patient.
Graf
P M
PM
Department of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Veterans Administration, San Francisco.
Farac
K
K
Stess
R M
RM
Gooding
G A
GA
D000328:Adult; D002145:Callosities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005531:Foot Deformities, Acquired / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*