Plantar Plate Anatomy

A plantar ligament plate is found on the bottom of the foot. They are essentially a type of metatarsophalangeal joint capsular tear and usually occur at the distal lateral border of the plantar plate.

Plantar Plate Tear Of The Second Metatarsal Phalangeal Joint

Plantar plate tears are not only common in symptomatic lesser mpjs but may also occur in asymptomatic lesser mpjs.

Plantar plate anatomy. At mr imaging the course of the plantar tendons is optimally visualized with dedicated imaging of the midfoot and forefoot. The plantar plate is relatively thin centrally where it overlies the flexor hallucis longus. This ligament plate connects the toe to the corresponding long bone of the foot.

Each foot contains four of these plates one for each toe except for the first toe which does not have a plantar ligament plate. Distally the plantar plate attaches to the base of the proximal phalanx where a small recess is often found. It is also referred to as predislocation syndrome crossover toe deformity and floating toe syndrome.

It is comprised of fibrocartilage collagen fibers and tough cartilage. Tears of the plantar plate may be the most common cause of pain under the second metatarsophalangeal joint though it can occur at any of the metatarsophalangeal joints. Impressive plantar plate attachments were noted to the proximal phalanx the major longitudinal bands of the plantar fascia and the collateral ligaments.

5 sagittal intermediate weighted image of 49 year old man shows plantar plate ppproximal phalanx distance line which is located between distal margin of pp arrowheads and base of proximal phalanx asterisk. The posterior midline aspect of the plantar plate lying between the sesamoids may be referred to as the intersesamoidal ligament. The proximal origin is thin but the distal insertion is stout.

Plantar plate tears refer to disruption to any of the plantar plates of the foot. The plantar plate was the most substantial distal insertion of the plantar fascia. Familiarity with the normal anatomy of the plantar tendons and its appearance at magnetic resonance mr imaging and ultrasonography us is essential for recognizing plantar tendon disorders.

In the human foot the plantar or volar plates also called plantar or volar ligaments are fibrocartilaginous structures found in the metatarsophalangeal mtp and interphalangeal ip joints. Whole length of flexor tendon was used as reference to assess this measurement. The anatomy and composition of the plantar plates are similar to the palmar plates in the metacarpophalangeal mcp and interphalangeal joints in the hand.

The plantar plate as the distal tension load bearing extension of the plantar fascia needs to remain intact and uninjured to allow it to maintain a straight plantigrade and mechanically stable digit.

Understanding The Biomechanics Of Plantar Plate Injuries