Long-term results of metatarsal head-resection in deformities of the forefoot in rheumatoid arthritis

: Between January 1983 and December 1987, metatarsal head-resections were performed on 203 patients, comprising a total of 370 feet, using the Hueter/Mayo and Hoffmann procedure. Seventy-two patients, comprising a total of 126 feet, were available for post-operative review after an average of 11.4 years from the date of the original operations. The information obtained from standardized questionnaires was compared to the information found in each patient's file. In addition, every available pre- and post-operative x-ray taken from 1983 to 1987 was analyzed. Thus, with an average follow-up period of 5.6 years, the changes found in the pre- and post-operative x-rays from a total of 183 feet could be compared. Before the operations, nearly 100% of the examined feet suffered from painful synovial hypertrophy and erosion of the metatarsophalangeal joints with dislocation and subluxation, causing approximately 70% of all patients to have great difficulties in walking. After the operations, however, 90.2% of the patients reported that this condition had noticeably improved or had completely disappeared. In fact, 87.5% of all patients reported a lasting improvement in their ability to walk longer distances. As the main criteria in determining the success of an operation (namely, the noticeable reduction of pain and increased mobility) were achieved in 87.5% of the patients, we consider the metatarsal head-resection a reliable method of correcting forefoot deformities in rheumatoid arthritis.