Flexor Hallucis Longus Tenosynovitis and First Metatarsophalangeal Synovitis After Penetrating Nail Prick Injury: Treated by Zone 3 Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendoscopy and Metatarsosesamoid Arthroscopy

• Main Author: Tun Hing Lui, M.B.B.S.(HK), F.R.C.S.(Edin), F.H.K.A.M., F.H.K.C.O.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-04-01
• Series: Arthroscopy Techniques
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221262871630202X

Pedal penetrating nail prick injury around the first metatarsal head can result in persistent synovitis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and tenosynovitis of the flexor hallucis longus tendon. Exploration and debridement is indicated if the condition does not improve with antibiotics. Open surgery requires extensive dorsal and plantar incisions. The purpose of this Technical Note is to report the combined arthroscopic and tendoscopic approaches to address the first metatarsophalangeal joint and flexor hallucis longus tendon pathologies. Because it is a result of a pedal injury, the layer-by-layer exploration and debridement is from plantar dorsally. It starts with zone 3 flexor hallucis longus tendoscopy, followed by arthroscopy of the metatarsosesamoid compartment, and finally arthroscopy of the metatarsophalangeal compartment.