Sesmoiditis
Other Popular Names
- None
Who does it affect?
It is common among ballet dancers, runners and baseball catchers.
Why does it hapen?
Most bones in the human body are connected to each other at joints. But there are a few bones that are not connected to any other bone. Instead, they are connected only to tendons or are embedded in muscle. These are the sesamoids. The kneecap (patella) is the largest sesamoid. Two other very small sesamoids (about the size of a kernel of corn) are found in the underside of the forefoot near the great toe, one on the outer side of the foot and the other closer to the middle of the foot.
Sesamoids act like pulleys. They provide a smooth surface over which the tendons slide, thus increasing the ability of the tendons to transmit muscle forces. The sesamoids in the forefoot also assist with weightbearing and help elevate the bones of the great toe. Like other bones, sesamoids can break (fracture). Additionally, the tendons surrounding the sesamoids can become irritated or inflamed. This is called sesamoiditis and is a form of tendinitis.
Symptoms
- Pain is focused under the great toe on the ball of the foot. With sesamoiditis, pain may develop gradually; with a fracture, pain will be immediate.
- Swelling and bruising may or may not be present.
- You may experience difficulty and pain in bending and straightening the great toe.
Diagnostics
During the examination, the consultant will look for tenderness at the sesamoid bones. He may manipulate the bone slightly or ask you to bend and straighten the toe. He may also bend the great toe up toward the top of the foot to see if the pain intensifies.
Your consultant will request X-rays of the forefoot to ensure a proper diagnosis. In many people, the sesamoid bone nearer the center of the foot (the medial sesamoid) has two parts (bipartite). Because the edges of a bipartite medial sesamoid are generally smooth, and the edges of a fractured sesamoid are generally jagged, an X-ray is useful in making an appropriate diagnosis. Your physician may also request X-rays of the other foot to compare the bone structure. If the X-rays appear normal, the physician may request a bone scan.
Non-surgical Treatment
Treatment is generally nonoperative. However, if conservative measures fail, your physician may recommend surgery to remove the sesamoid bone.
Sesamoiditis:
- Stop the activity causing the pain.
- Take aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve the pain.
- Rest and ice the sole of your feet. Do not apply ice directly to the skin, but use an ice pack or wrap the ice in a towel.
- Wear soft-soled, low-heeled shoes. Stiff-soled shoes like clogs may also be comfortable.
- Use a felt cushioning pad to relieve stress.
- Return to activity gradually, and continue to wear a cushioning pad of dense foam rubber under the sesamoids to support them. Avoid activities that put your weight on the balls of the feet.
- Tape the great toe so that it remains bent slightly downward (plantar flexion).
- Your consultant may recommend an injection of a steroid medication to reduce swelling.
- If symptoms persist, you may need to wear a removable short leg fracture brace for 4 to 6 weeks.
Fracture of the Sesamoid:
- You will need to wear a stiff-soled shoe or a short, leg-fracture brace.
- Your physician may tape the joint to limit movement of the great toe.
- You may have to wear a J-shaped pad around the area of the sesamoid to relieve pressure as the fracture heals.
- Pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen may be recommended.
- It may take several months for the discomfort to subside.
- Cushioning pads or other orthotic devices are often helpful as the fracture heals.
Surgical Treatment
The surgical procedure will vary according to the injury. The aim of surgery is to repair the soft tissues and restore the MTP joint motion so that normal function can be preserved.
Bone Removal:
Your consultant may recommend removing part or all of the sesamoid bone. When bone is removed from only one sesamoid, the other sesamoid bone can still provide a fulcrum point for the toe flexors. However, if both of the bones are taken out, the toe flexors lose necessary leverage and can't function. When this happens, the big toe will either bend up like a claw or slant severely toward the second toe. Thus, taking both sesamoids out is usually avoided.
When a sesamoid bone is fractured in a sudden injury, surgery may be done to remove the broken pieces. To remove the sesamoid on the inside edge of the foot, an incision is made along the side of the big toe. The soft tissue is separated, taking care not to damage the nerve that runs along the inside edge of the big toe. The soft tissues enclosing the sesamoid are opened, and bone is removed. The tissues next to the sesamoid are stitched up. Then the soft tissues are laid back in place, and the skin is sewed together.
Surgery is similar for the sesamoid closer to the middle of the foot. The only difference is that the incision is made either on the bottom of the big toe or in the web space between the big toe and the second toe.
Scraping:
For patients diagnosed with stubborn plantar keratosis, consultants generally perform surgery to scrape off the extra tissue. Your consultant may decide to shave off only the affected part of the bone. The bottom half of the sesamoid is cut off, and the rough edges of the remaining part of the bone are filed with a special tool to leave a smooth shell. This surgery is easier on the body than procedures that completely remove the sesamoid.
Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
After a surgical procedure to shave or remove bone, patients are generally placed in either a rigid-soled shoe or a cast for two to three weeks. Most are instructed to use crutches and to limit the weight they put on the foot during this period.
Return to Normal Routine
When will I be able to walk again and wear shoes?
In the majority of cases, you will able to walk with the aid of crutches within 2-4 days but you will remain somewhat limited for the first 2 weeks. However, if the surgical incision is on the sole of the foot, you will not be able to walk on this area for 3 weeks. This is to minimise the problems with scarring as this could result in discomfort and hard skin formation for the rest of your life.
Some patients are able to return to wider shoes within two weeks and most are generally back into shoes by 4-6 weeks.
Swelling generally starts to reduce at 6-8 weeks and the foot will be beginning to feel more normal at 3 months although the healing process continues for 1year.
When will I be able to drive again?
When you feel able to perform an emergency stop. This is generally between 4-8 weeks post operatively but you should always check with your insurance company first.
When will I be able to return to work?
If you are able to get a lift and have a job that is not active and you can elevate your foot, you may be able to return after 1-2 weeks. Generally, patients return to work between 4-8 weeks depending on the type of job, activity levels and response to surgery.
When will I be able to return to sport?
Although the healing process continues for up to 1 year, you should be able to return to impact type activity at around 2-3 months. This will depend on the type of operation you need and how you respond to surgery.
Risks
General risks:
Overall 98% of patients are happy with the result, however pain an stiffness might occur the days after the surgery.
Specific Risks:
- Fracture of the remaining portion of sesamoid
- Weakness and / or deformity of the big toe
You may get discomfort in other parts of your foot during the recovery period. This generally settles.