Abstract

The paper concerns the pathology of the footballers foot as a consequence of the sport, where the foot is exposed to damaging traumas and microtraumas someof which are accidental and others arise out of the technique of the game. More than fifty percent of footballers present arthrosis affecting the mediotarsal region and the bones of the second row of the tarsus, or tarso- metatarsal, cuneo-metatarsal and cuboidmetatarsal arthroses or, finally, metatarso-phalangeal arthrosis. Such situations are evident clinically and radiographically. Subjectively the condition is seen in a painful sindrome while walking, running and kicking the ball, objectively in a tumefaction on Choparts joint, pain upon pressure on the internal part and on Lisfranc joint at the internal and dorsal sides and, in the case of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the hallux, in the form of progressive ankylosis leading to hallux rigidus.Radiographic findings point to osteophytes, free bone growths,peduncolated orfree bone particles, sessile bone formations. As treatment of cases of pain syndrome which persists on resting and is recalcitrant to medical treatment, only surgery to remove the pre- or periarticular particles disturbing tendon movement offers clinical improvement. Verf.-Referat