Metatarsal head osteochondrosis

　　The cause of the disease is mostly related to trauma or repeated injury and stress, or may occur on the basis of incomplete fracture of the metatarsal head joint surface. Some believe that the disease has similar properties to osteochondritis dissecans.

　　Local deformities may occur. Deformity refers to abnormal or defective volume, shape, location, or structure of organs or tissues, resulting in deformity. Early symptoms of deformity are often not easily detected and may lead to delayed treatment. This phenomenon is relatively common in young children. Some congenital orthopedic deformities in young children are often not easily noticed by parents, and some abnormalities that appear during development are often not paid attention to and may lead to delayed treatment. However, early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment can lead to better outcomes.

　　This disease commonly occurs in adolescents aged 10 to 18, with a higher prevalence in females, and can also occur in adults. 10% of cases are bilateral. Patients may experience pain in the forefoot while walking, with intermittent severe pain, affecting the metatarsal heads, swelling and tenderness are more obvious on the plantar surface, and pain intensifies when the toes are extended. The course of the disease is usually 1 to 3 years, and persistent pain or mild local deformity may occur due to irregular articular surfaces or bone spurs compressing the area.

　　For children in the sequelae stage with existing skeletal deformities, physical exercise should be strengthened, and active or passive exercise methods can be used to correct. For high-risk factors of rickets due to vitamin D deficiency, during the growth and development process, early loading-bearing exercises (such as avoiding early practice of sitting, standing, and jumping under support) should be avoided. If lower limb deformities have appeared, muscle massage (O-shaped leg massage on the lateral muscle, X-shaped leg massage on the medial muscle) can be performed to increase muscle tension and correct deformities. Severe skeletal deformities may consider surgical correction.

　　Show involved metatarsal heads, irregularly enlarged neck, widened transverse diameter, increased density, uneven articular surface, and segmented fragmentation. Some patients show that the first metatarsal is shorter and the second metatarsal is relatively longer. According to the lateral X-ray film, it can be divided into:

　　1. Anterior margin type:The lesion does not exceed 1/3 of the anterior superior margin of the metatarsal head.

　　2. Complete epiphysial type:The lesion involves all metatarsal heads.

　　3. Intermediate type:The lesion range is between the two.

　　1. Foods that are good for the body with metatarsal head osteochondrosis

　　Eat more calcium-rich foods, keep the diet light and nutritious, eat more vegetables and fruits such as bananas, strawberries, apples, etc. Because they are rich in nutrients, eat more immune-boosting foods such as propolis. In this way, enhance personal disease resistance. In daily life, reasonable dietary搭配 is also needed, and attention should be paid to sufficient nutrition.

　　2. Foods to avoid for metatarsal head osteochondrosis

　　Avoid smoking, drinking, spicy foods, greasy foods, smoking, and drinking. Avoid eating cold foods. To avoid recurrent onset of the disease.

　　1. Treatment

　　Avoid bearing weight for 1-2 weeks during the acute stage, and then use forefoot arch pads for protection until symptoms disappear, usually requiring several years. Adult patients with persistent pain caused by osteophytes compressing the toe nerves can have the osteophytes excised into free bodies. The excision of the metatarsal head is only applicable to patients with partial epiphysial type who have failed conservative treatment.

　　2. Prognosis

　　After treatment, the effect is still good.