Arthroscopy of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

We carried out 12 arthroscopies of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint in 11 patients over a five-year period. Their mean age was 30 years (15 to 58) and the mean duration of symptoms before surgery was eight months (1 to 24). Six patients had an injury to the joint; all had swelling and tenderness with a reduced range of movement. In six patients, radiographs revealed no abnormality. Under general anaesthesia with a tourniquet the hallux is suspended by a large Chinese finger trap to distract the joint. Using a 1.9 mm 30 degree oblique arthroscope the MTP joint is inspected through dorsomedial and dorsolateral portals with a medial portal if necessary. All patients were found to have intra-articular pathology, which was treated using small instruments. The mean follow-up was 19.3 months (6 to 62) and all patients had no or minimal pain, decreased swelling and an increased range of movement of the affected joint.