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Anatomical grading system aids in identification of plantar plate lesions
Researchers in this study found an anatomical grading system aided in the identification of plantar plate lesions resulting from lesser metatarsophalangeal instability and recommended the grading system be introduced in foot and ankle fellowship training.
“We conclude that a prior knowledge of the anatomic grading system of lesions of the plantar plates improved identification and description of plantar plate tears by the radiologist,” Caio Nery, MD, and colleagues wrote in their study.
Nery and colleagues asked four radiologists to analyze MRIs of 35 patients with lesser metatarsophalangeal (MTP) instability without knowing the pathology. They divided the radiologists into two groups where one group was given a report sheet for identifying plantar plate lesions by morphology, width and length, while the second group received an anatomical grading system identifying four different grades of plantar plate tearing.
The researchers found that knowledge of plantar plate patterns helped the radiologists better identify the type and location of various tears in the MRIs, according to the abstract. Senior radiologists were also more accurate in the group with the anatomical grading system than when given the reporting sheet.
Disclosure: One author (Coughlin) is a consultant for Arthrex.