Turf Toe

Turf toe is a plantar plate injury at the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint that often occurs in sports or activities that require sudden direction changes. It is caused by forceful hyperextension of the first MTP joint. It has been more extensively described in American football players playing on artificial surfaces. Clinically, patients have pain with push-off and reduced mobility. It can be a severe injury in an elite athlete but also a minor injury in the general population. The following chapter reviews the epidemiology, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of turf toe, based on current evidence.