Plantar plate injury

Question 1

What does the plantar plate do?

Answer 1

• transverse ligament at the ball of the forefoot
• protect head of mets
• Prevents over extension
• helps keep alignment of toes

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

• repetitive trauma to area
• Sudden increase in load
• Abnormal forefoot loading

Question 3

Signs and symptoms

Answer 3

• V sign
• floating toe, poor plantarflexion
• Pt may indicated walking on coins
• pain at plantar aspect of proximal phalanx

Question 4

Diagnosis

Answer 4

• Look for Sx
• Lachman AP drawer test
• palpation of joint space
• ultrasound and MRI

Question 5

Treatment

Answer 5

• plantarflexion taping
• footwear education
• RICE
• NSAIDs
• offloading MPJ
• intrinsic muscle strengthening
• Manage load