title: Metatarsophalangeal joint stability: a systematic review on the plantar plate of the lesser toes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Instability of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of the lesser toes (digiti 2-5) is increasingly being treated by repair of the plantar plate (PP). This systematic review examines the anatomy of the plantar plate of the lesser toes, and the relation between the integrity of the plantar plates of the lesser toes and lesser MTP joint stability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The databases of Embase.com, Medline (Ovid), Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Pubmed not medline, Cinahl (ebsco), ProQuest, Lilacs, Scielo and Google Scholar were searched in June 2015 from inception. Studies were included if they were in English, contained primary data, and had a focus on plantar plate anatomy of the lesser toes or on the relationship between integrity of the plantar plate and MTP joint (in)stability. Study characteristics were extracted into two main tables and descriptive anatomical and histological data were summarized into one schematic 3D drawing of the plantar plate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine studies were included in this systematic review, of which five addressed plantar plate anatomy as such and four focused directly and indirectly on plantar plate integrity related to MTP joint stability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first systematic review regarding plantar plate anatomy related to MTP joint stability of the lesser toes. This review iterates the importance of plantar plate anatomy and integrity for MTP joint stability, and it delineates the lack of primary data regarding plantar plate anatomy of the lesser toes and MTP joint stability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 2040, Ee-177, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nico M G
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Grinten
authors.affiliation: Medical Library, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wichor M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Bramer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 2040, Ee-177, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kleinrensink
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008683:Metatarsophalangeal Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D000069262:Plantar Plate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D014034:Toes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Lesser metatarsophalangeal joints; Metatarsophalangeal stability; Plantar plate; Systematic review