One of the biggest old medical cliches is: “If you hear hoofbeats, think horses … not zebras.” In other words: the most common explanation for a given set of symptoms is usually correct. That’s good advice in general, but unfortunately, it can lead to several rarer, more subtle conditions getting missed or misdiagnosed. 

Plantar plate tears are a good example of this. This is a serious injury to the ball of the foot that often gets confused for other conditions—particularly neuromas. As a result, plantar plate tears can easily become more painful and severe without effective treatment. Untreated plantar plate tears can even lead to hammertoes, arthritis, and other painful long-term problems.

If you’ve noticed pain in the ball of your foot and your second toe “popping up” or drifting out of alignment, give us a call. You may be suffering from this condition—and you need an accurate diagnosis so you can get the relief you deserve.

Mechanics of a Plantar Plate Tear

On the bottom of the four lesser toe joints, there is a ligament (the plantar plate) between the base of the toe and the metatarsal behind the joint. The plantar plate is responsible for keeping the toe in the metatarsophalangeal joint, especially during the gait cycle when the toes bend at the base of the foot before they push off from the ground. It also brings the toe back to a straight position.

Unlike most other ligaments, there is no muscle associated with the plantar plate. In some instances, the ligament tears or becomes overstretched, which causes pain and can lead to toe dislocation. The pain is often misdiagnosed as being a neuroma.

Plantar Plate Tear Causes and Symptoms

This injury is either the result of overuse or from specific damage to the toe and its associated joint. Excessive pressure through the metatarsal bone area, particularly on the metatarsal head that faces the greatest force loads while walking, leads to the plantar plate ligament giving out over time and developing a tear. This often causes pain in the toe’s metatarsophalangeal joint or the ball of the foot. In mild cases, there might be no apparent deformity to the toe and a patient may experience either a dull ache or sharp pain.

You might suspect a plantar plate tear if you notice any of the following:

  • Pain and swelling underneath the ball of the foot, extending toward the toes. Some people may describe this like “walking on bones.”
  • Symptoms may be more severe if you bend the toe upward.
  • The toe itself may have a tendency to “pop up” or drift side to side, creating a “V” shape with the neighboring toe. 

If the ligament tear becomes a chronic condition, there is an increased risk of severe deformity or even the development of hammertoe. As an injury progresses, cartilage in the joint erodes, which can lead to an arthritic condition and greater pain.

Plantar Plate Tear Treatment

In the early stages of ligament disruption, nonsurgical care can be effective. This entails identifying and eliminating the deforming activity or force. For acute cases, we may need to prescribe a boot or special shoe to keep weight off the front of the foot.

We can perform special taping that should remain on the toe for a variable number of weeks. When we do this, we strap the affected toe into a downward position, while also correcting any abnormal sideways drifting. This allows the ligament to heal without facing continued strain.

We can provide custom orthotic devices that will support the front of the foot and assist in preventing the deformity from recurring.

In the case of chronic and severe deformities, surgical correction is often recommended. Essentially, the toe needs to be realigned in order to stabilize the joint. The plantar plate can also be repaired and tightened.

Plantar plate correction surgery is fairly simple and has little to no downtime for patients. We will use a pin to hold the healing area in place and a boot will need to be worn for about 5-6 weeks. If a patient follows instructions, there can be a full return to favorite activities with little or no pain.

Are You Looking for a Plantar Plate Tear Specialist in Austin, TX?

If you are looking for plantar plate tear care, you should reach out to an experienced podiatristAustin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.