Recently Published in Journal of Orthopaedic Research by
Blake E. Moore, MD

(VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, July 2016) – The prestigious national orthopaedic medical journal, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, has recently published an article authored by Blake E Moore, MD, a Virginia Beach, Va. orthopaedic surgeon and a specialist in Foot and Ankle orthopaedics for the specialty group practice, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists. Dr. Moore was one of the doctors who contributed to the research study along with Umur Aydogan, Evan P. Roush, Seth H. Andrews, and Gregory S. Lewis.

Moore’s article, which appears in the June issue of JOR, details research recognizing destruction of the normal metatarsal arch by a long metatarsal is often a cause for metatarsalgia. Download article pdf »

The term metatarsalgia describes a painful condition underneath the metatarsal heads, most commonly the second metatarsal. Although it can arise from various pathologies including rheumatoid arthritis or iatrogenic conditions, the most common cause is increased plantar pressure underneath the metatarsal head. A long second metatarsal, which destroys the normal metatarsal parabola, is commonly suspected as a cause for this condition.

Dr. Moore conducted cadaveric biomechanical study using six matched pairs of foot and ankle specimens mounted on a pressure mat loading platform. Contrary to the hypothesis, peak pressures under the second metatarsal were significantly increased by plantar fascia release following modified distal osteotomy, under multiple Achilles loading conditions (p < 0.05). Plantar fasciotomy should not be added to distal metatarsal osteotomy in the treatment of metatarsalgia. If proximal dorsiflexion osteotomy would be preferred, plantar fasciotomy should be approached cautiously not to disturb the forefoot biomechanics.

Moore conducted research for this article while completing his fellowship in Foot & Ankle Surgery at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He now specializes in Foot and Ankle Surgery at Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, a multi-specialty orthopaedic group. With 23 physicians, 5 clinical locations in four cities and 7 orthopaedic subspecialty areas, it is the largest and most diversified provider of orthopaedic service in southeastern Virginia.