Radiological and morphological study of asymptomatic feet in a populational sample

Abstract

Objective: To validate normality parameters in the hallux valgus angle (AHV), intermetatarsal angle (AIM) of the 1st and 2nd radius, phalangeal metatarsus angle (AMTF) of the 2nd radius, difference of length between 1st and 2nd metatarsus and the formula of the feet, correlating them with the morphology of 2nd metatarsus (MT) (cortical, diameter and isthmus). Methods: We studied 160 X-rays of normal feet, in antero-posterior incidence, in orthostatic position. The age range of the sample was between 19 and 50 years old, with an average of 33 years. The variables were correlated through the Spearman method and the feet formula with the AIM by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: There was direct statistical significance between the length difference of the 1st MT and the 2nd MT with the diameter of the 2nd MT in the women, and in the men with the cortical lateral thickness of the 2nd MT. The significance was reverse between the length difference of the 1stMT and the 2nd MT with the isthmus of the 2nd MT in men. There was a direct significant correlation between the AIM and the medial cortical of the 2nd MT in women. However, there was a reverse significant correlation between the AMTF of the second metatarsus and the diameter of the 2nd MT in females and with the isthmus in male feet. Conclusions: In the women, the index minus brought increase in the diameter of the 2nd MT, and in the men, increase in the cortical lateral with reduction of the isthmus. The increase in the AIM led to a thickening of the medial cortical only in women, and there was no statistical correlation with the digital and metatarsal formulas of the foot.