11. Selective Overloading of Metatarsal Heads

Selective overloading may be due to any one or a combination of a multitude of factors affecting each metatarsal head and it is important that the etiology should be understood in each individual case so that treatment can be planned accordingly. Arbitrary management without reference to the cause is likely to prove unsuccessful. Some overlap with conditions described in other chapters is inevitable but it is useful to consider this group of conditions together in the interests of complete understanding.