VOLUME 11 , ISSUE 1 ( January-March, 2024 ) > List of Articles
Vijay Kumar Digge, MLV Sai Krishna, Anmol Anand, Sumit Kumar
Keywords : Foot, Metatarsophalangeal joint, Recurrence, Synovial chondromatosis
Citation Information : Digge VK, Krishna MS, Anand A, Kumar S. Recurrent Synovial Chondromatosis of the Fifth Metatarsophalangeal Joint of the Foot: A Case Report. J Foot Ankle Surg Asia-Pacific 2024; 11 (1):33-37.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10040-1279
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 30-12-2023
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).
Background: Primary synovial chondromatosis is a disease occurring in normal joints and is characterized by the formation of hyaline cartilage in the subintimal layer of the synovium and loose body formation eventually leading to degenerative arthritis. Though it mostly affects large joints, it can rarely involve small joints of the foot as well. The treatment is excision of the loose bodies along with complete synovectomy because partial synovectomy leads to recurrence. The disorder is rarely associated with malignant transformation as well and hence the excised tissue should always be sent for histopathological examination. Case description: A 15-year-old girl presented to us with a painful swelling over the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot. She had a past history of similar complaints two years ago for which she underwent surgical excision of the same. She presented to us again with recurrence, for which she again underwent surgical excision and the biopsy was sent for histopathological examination which was suggestive of metaplastic calcification with no evidence of malignant transformation. Conclusion: The treatment for synovial chondromatosis is synovectomy and loose body removal either as an arthroscopic or open procedure, and incomplete synovectomy has been attributed to higher recurrence rates. Malignant transformation though rare has also been described and should always be suspected in a recurrent disease that has rapid growth and bone destruction and requires histopathological examination.