Stress Fractures of the Medial Great Toe Sesamoids in Athletes

The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific symptoms and findings are present in patients with symptomatic stress fractures of the sesamoids of the great toe and, if so, whether partial sesamoidectomy is sufficient for successful treatment. Five consecutive athletes (five females; mean age 16.8 years range, 13 to 22 years) with six feet that were treated for symptomatic stress fractures of the sesamoids of the great toe were included in this study. Four athletes (five feet) performed rhythmic sports gymnastics; the fifth athlete was a long jumper. Some swelling to the forefoot and activity-related pain that increased in forced dorsiflexion, but disappeared at rest was found in all patients. While plain X-rays evidenced fragmentation of the medial sesamoid, MRI (n=2) and frontal plane CT scan (n=3) did not always confirm the diagnosis, but bone scan (n=3) and axial as well as sagittal CT scan were useful to detect the pathology. After failure of conservative treatment measures, surgical excision of the proximal fragment was successful in all patients, and there were no complications. All patients were pain free and regained full sports activity within six months (range, 2.5 to six months). At final follow-up which averaged 50.6 months (range, 20 to 110 months), the overall clinical results were graded as good/excellent in all patients, and there was only one patient with of restriction sports activities. The obtained AOFAS-Hallux-Score was 95.3 (75 to 100) points. Apparently, stress fractures occur more often at the medial sesamoid, and females are mainly involved. When a stress fracture is suspected, bone scan and CT scan are suggested as more reliable in confirming the diagnosis than other imaging methods. When conservative treatment has failed, surgical excision of the proximal fragment is recommended.