The incidence of rheumatic diseases affecting the first metatarsophalangeal joint : a study of 68 cases

Abstract EN

Eighty six cases were taken into the study.

They complained necessarily from pain in the great toe.

The complaint was either solitary, accompanied by other metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint affection or a part of a generalized arthritic condition.

Thus the patients were divided into three groups according to the complaint.

All patients had a standard PA radiographs of their toes and had their ESR measured.

Serum uric acid, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody and plain X-ray of the hands were done upon request for diagnostic purposes.

The first group comprised 11 patients 10 males and one female.

Their ages ranged from 22-66 with a mean of 45.9.

Their ESR ranged from 3-30 with a mean of 12.2.

The second group comprised 26 patients, 10 males and 16 females.

Their ages ranged from 31-70 with a mean of 49.7.

Their ESR ranged from 6-30 with a mean of 14.5.

The third group comprised 49 patients, 10 males and 41 females.

Their ages ranged from 33-73 with a mean of 53.7.

Their ESR ranged from 26-110 with a mean of 46.7.

The results showed that diseases affecting the great toe are in the order of incidence, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (52%), gout (16%) and primary generalized osteoarthritis (lry GOA) (10%).