The position of the hallux and the first metatarsophalangeal

Abstract

Background: The great toe is commonly involved in lateral deviations (hallux valgus) due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. However, studies on these areas for Africans and especially Nigerians are relatively scarce.
Objectives: To establish the normal range of values of the first metatarsophalangeal joint MTPJ angle and the position of the hallux in Nigerians and to determine the relationship between the first MTPJ angle and the position of the hallux.
Methods: Two hundred and forty anterior-posterior radiographs of the foot of indigenous adult Nigerian subjects consisting of 121 males and 119 females aged between 18 and 59 years were examined. The position of the hallux, the value of the first MTPJ angle and the existence of any possible sexual dimorphism were determined.
Results: The value of the first MTPJ angle was found to be 12.26°±6.35 for male and 11.87°±6.68 for female subjects. The sex difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). A mean value of 12.06°±6.50 with a range of 10.67° to 13.40° was obtained for both sexes. In addition, subjects with a first MTPJ angles ≤ 17° were found to have a congruous position of the hallux at the first metartasophalangeal joint, those with angles ≥ 30° had a subluxated hallux position. Our results show that 75% of Nigerians studied have congruous position of the hallux, 24.17% are deviated and 0.83% subluxated.
Conclusions: Over the past five decades values of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) angles of Nigerians has markedly increased. A possible relationship exists between the first MTPJ angle and the position of the hallux at the first MPTJ.


Keywords: Hallux, First metatarsophalangeal joint angle, Metatarsophalangeal joint, Foot

Port Harcourt Medical Journal Vol. 2 (3) 2008: pp. 211-217