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Functional Outcome of Sesamoid Excision in Athletes

Dean RS, Coetzee JC, McGaver RS, Fritz JE, Nilsson LJ

The American journal of sports medicine, 2020

72 participants

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sesamoid injuries can have a significant effect on the ability of athletes to return to play. The literature shows mixed results with sesamoid excisions and the ability to return to sports.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: The purpose was to describe patient-reported outcomes and return to sports in athletes after sesamoidectomy with a proper surgical technique and a well-structured rehabilitation protocol. It was hypothesized that sesamoid excision would demonstrate reproducible and encouraging long-term patient outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: All patients from a single surgeon's practice who underwent sesamoidectomy between January 2006 and September 2015 were identified. Medial sesamoids were excised through a medial approach, and lateral sesamoids were excised through a plantar approach. The plantar structures were adequately repaired after excision. The Foot Function Index-Revised (FFI-R), 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and visual analog scale (VAS) were collected preoperatively and at subsequent follow-up appointments. A patient satisfaction survey and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) questionnaire were also collected. Athletes were defined as those who participated in sports at a high school level or higher.

RESULTS: Of the 108 feet that met the inclusion criteria, 26 werelost to follow-up, leaving 82 feet for analysis at a mean 31.3 ± 26.0 months. There were 72 female patients and 10 male patients included in…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 72 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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