Abstract
We reviewed and clinically analysed 23 cases of tarsometatarsal joint injuries, which were treated at the orthopaedic department of Chosun university hospital during the period from January 1989 to December 1993, and the following results were obtained.
1. The clinical results of tarsornetatarsal joint injuries did not correlate with the mechanism and classification of injuries.
2. Anatomical reduction and its maintenance, whether treated by closed or open methods, seemed to lead to normal appearance and function.
3. In many cases of our series. early closed reduction was unlikely to succeed because of soft tissue interposition, marked comminution. or a large articular fragment, or because of many concomitant injuries involving the same foot.
4. We recommend early aggressive open reduction and K-wire fixation if the closed reduction is inadequate.
5. For maintenance of stable reduction, only two K-wires(one through the 1st metatarsal base into the first cuneiform, and the other through the fifth metatarsal into the cuboid) are insufficient especially in direct injury, so we recommend that fixation of displaced individual metatarsal and the base of second metatarsal with multiple K-wires.