Freiberg-Kohler disease: clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and treatment (literature review)

Introduction The paper deals with the main aspects of osteochondropathy of the heads of the II-V (small) metatarsal bones. The relevance of the problem of treating patients with Freiberg-Kohler disease can be explained by high incidence and poor results of traditional methods of its management. Objective The aim of this work was an attempt to generalize the available data and improve the understanding of approaches to the treatment of osteochondropathy of the heads of the II-V metatarsals. Materials and methods The publications obtained in various information systems (PubMed, eLibrary.ru, Google Scholar) were reviewed. Results Issues of history, etiology, pathogenesis, systematization and diagnosis of this disease were highlighted. The analysis of existing methods of treatment was carried out. Their advantages and disadvantages were assessed. Conclusion Despite more than a century of studies on Freiberg-Kohler disease, the available literature is scarce. Most works are case reports or series of cases describing small samples. This fact significantly reduces the scientific value. Thus, improving the methods of diagnosis and treatment of patients with this disease based on the foundations of evidence-based medicine is a task of current traumatology and orthopedics.