Plantar Plate Tears

The plantar plate is made of a 2 - 5 mm thick layer of connective tissue originating on the plantar aspect of the distal metatarsals and inserting on the plantar base of the proximal phalanx. This stout structure serves as the main stabilizer supporting the MTP joints. Through chronic microtrauma or dynamic imbalance, this tissue can become inflamed, attenuated, tear or rupture. This results in pain, MTP joint instability, crossover toes, or dislocations.

Plantar Plate Repair

The majority of plantar plate injuries are treated with traditional lesser MTPJ rebalancing procedures, including sequential release of soft tissue, tendon transfers, metatarsal osteotomies, and temporary MTPJ pinning. These approaches, while quick and inexpensive, do not address the underlying issues of loss of toe purchase and the high incidence of reoccurrence often associated with performing an indirect repair. Direct repair of the plantar plate with Arthrex’s family of solutions delivers improved patient outcomes and higher patient satisfaction scores.
Arthrex’s continuous evolution in plantar plate repair has led to the development of a family of products capable of addressing any stage of lesser toe instability, from a partial plantar plate tear with mid-dorsal plane instability to a complete rupture and attenuation of the plantar plate with a crossover toe deformity. Below is the summary of our current offerings:

^The^Internal^{Brace surgical technique is intended only to augment the primary repair/reconstruction by expanding the area of tissue approximation during the healing period and is not intended as a replacement for the native ligament. The}^Internal^{Brace technique is for use during soft tissue-to-bone fixation procedures and is not cleared for bone-to-bone fixation.}