title: ANTEROGRADE PERCUTANEOUS TREATMENT OF LESSER METATARSAL FRACTURES: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION AND CLINICAL RESULTS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the results obtained using the anterograde percutaneous fixation technique for treating shaft and neck fractures of the lesser metatarsals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated 14 patients between 2003 and 2008, taking into consideration the topography of the fracture, trauma mechanism, associated comorbidities and AOFAS score for the forefoot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The anatomical region most affected was the metatarsal neck (79%). Involvement of multiple metatarsals (53%) was more common than isolated fractures (47%). Low-energy trauma (79%) was more frequent than high-energy trauma (21%). Female patients with diabetes had the worst postoperative functional results. There were no postoperative complications relating to the type of treatment instituted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The surgical technique presented was efficient for treating fractures of the lesser metatarsals, with a lower complication rate than shown by other established techniques in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Specialist in Foot and Ankle Medicine and Surgery, Unifesp - Paulista School of Medicine - São Paulo, SP; Member, Foot and Ankle Group, Hospital Felício Rocho - Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baumfeld
authors.affiliation: Specialist in Foot and Ankle Medicine and Surgery, Unifesp - Paulista School of Medicine - São Paulo, SP; Member, Foot and Ankle Group, Hospital Felício Rocho - Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Benjamim Dutra
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: President, Latin American Federation of Medicine and Surgery of the Foot and Leg (FLAMECIPP); Lecturer/Associate Professor, Unifesp - Paulista School of Medicine - São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Caio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.affiliation: Third-Year Resident, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital Felício Rocho, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Elias
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Esper
authors.affiliation: Third-Year Resident, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital Felício Rocho, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marco Aurelio Baldo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Filho
keywords: Forefoot, Human; Fracture Fixation; Metatarsus, Fractures, Bone