Simple resection arthroplasty for treatment of 4th and 5th tarsometatarsal joint problems. A technical tip and a small case series.

Osteoarthritis, primary or secondary, of the fourth and/or fifth tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint is a rare condition. When conservative treatment fails or proves to be unacceptable for the patient, operative treatment is an option. In this article the technique of resection arthroplasty is described and a retrospective case series of 6 patients is presented. Three patients underwent tendon interposition arthroplasty after resection of the two joints and in the last three cases no interposition at all was performed. Results suggest that resection arthroplasty without interposition may be as effective as other operative treatment options for patients with fourth and fifth TMT pathology.