Sesamoiditis

1. Defenition / Description

30 % of the stress fractures that involve the sesamoid is sesamoiditis. Sesamoïditis is a painfull inflammation of the sesamoïd bones. This disorder is most commonly diagnosed with the hallux, but also the sesamoid bones off the pollex and the index finger can be involved. The last one isn’t common. (1)

The symptoms of sesamoïditis can heal very fast. It only takes a few weeks.

2. Clinicaly Relevant Anatomy

The sesamoïd bones are separated by a bony ridge called the crista, the plantair aspect off the first metatarsal head. Even though, they do are connected to one another by an intersesamoïd ligament. This whole structure is surrounded by the flexor hallucis brevis tendon, a specialized subcutaneous layer and skin. (3)

3. Epidemiology / Etiology

Pathologic conditions involving the sesamoïd are rare and usually of a posttraumatic or degenerative etiology. (1) Sesamoïditis is a chronic injury, caused by frequent pressure and results in irritation and inflammation of the surrounding tissues. There are different causes of sesamoïditis, for instance damage to the sesamoïd bones,  a deformation of the metatarsophalangeal joint or gout.

Other factors that have a negative influence on the development of sesamoïditis are:

•  Osteoartritis;

Osteoporosis;

walking on high heels;

the size of the sesamoids (the bigger, the higher the risk);

the practiced sport (volleyball, running, gymnastics,..).