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What is a Freiberg infraction?

What is a Freiberg infraction?

Freiberg infraction is a condition that affects the metatarsal bones of the foot. It most commonly affects the second metatarsal (the bone underneath the second toe) but it can also affect the third or fourth metatarsal. Essentially, the rounded end or ‘head’ of the metatarsal bone collapses and flattens out.

How is Freiberg disease treated?

Freiberg disease is avascular necrosis of the metatarsal head. Pain is most pronounced with weight bearing. Diagnosis is confirmed with x-rays. Treatment includes corticosteroid injections, immobilization, and orthotics.

What causes Freiberg’s infraction?

It is believed that Freiberg’s disease is caused by a loss of blood supply to the end of the bone, which can occur around puberty. It may be caused by repetitive strain on the bone, resulting in subtle damage to the end of the bone near the growth area. This stops it being able to develop a normal shape.

How is Freiberg’s infraction diagnosed?

A diagnosis of Freiberg’s disease is often suspected based on the presence of characteristic signs and symptoms. An X-ray , magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or bone scan can then be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.

What causes Freiberg infraction?

(Freiberg Infraction) The cause is injury to the bone. This disorder usually occurs in girls who are going through puberty and who are growing rapidly or in people in whom the bone connected to the base of the big toe (the first metatarsal bone) is short or the second metatarsal bone is long.

Can you get Freiberg disease in both feet?

In this report, we describe the first male case of Freiberg’s disease involving the second and third metatarsals in both feet, with the aim of highlighting the condition as a potential cause of such forefoot pain.

What is the treatment for Freiberg’s infraction?

As Freiberg’s infraction progresses, radiographs show a flattened and fragmented metatarsal head. Nonoperative treatment is based on decreasing foot pressure and unloading the affected metatarsal. Spontaneous healing with remodeling may occur in early stages of the disease.

What happens to the bone in Freiberg disease?

With disease progression, flattening of the metatarsal head occurs, and low-signal-intensity changes develop on T2-weighted images as the bone becomes sclerotic. Albert H Freiberg (1868-1940), was an American orthopedic surgeon, who first described his eponymous condition in 1914 8,9,11. 1. Ashman CJ, Klecker RJ, Yu JS.

What kind of Osteochondrosis is Freiberg disease?

Dr Henry Knipe ◉ ◈ and Dr Jeremy Jones ◉ et al. Freiberg disease, also known as Freiberg infraction, is osteochondrosis of metatarsal heads. It typically affects the 2nd metatarsal head, although the 3rd and 4th may also be affected. It can be bilateral in up to 10% of cases.

What happens to the head of the second metatarsophalangeal joint?

Freiberg infraction pattern results in flattening and collapse of the head of the second metatarsophalangeal joint, leading to degenerative changes and progressing to arthritis. Considered to be an uncommon process, avascular necrosis of the second metatarsal is the fourth most common osteochondrosis.

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Ruth Doyle