Don’t Let Great Toe Pain Slow You Down

Does your big toe joint hurt? Does Motion cause you pain and discomfort? This might be a form of arthritis called Hallux rigidus, which is actually a form of degenerative arthritis in the big toe (first metatarsal phalangeal joint). Sometimes this progresses to the point where surgery is the only way to eliminate or reduce the pain associated with this condition.

The goal of hallux rigidus surgery is to reduce pain, improve function and decrease deformity to enable the patient to resume normal activities. Various types of surgery are available to treat hallux rigidus. In selecting the procedure or combination of procedures for your particular case, your surgeon has taken into consideration the extent of your deformity based on x-ray findings, your age, your activity level, and other factors.

One common procedure that is proven to eliminate pain at the joint and the limitation which it puts on daily activities is an arthrodesis or as commonly called, a joint fusion. During this procedure the surgeon makes an incision at the top of the joint of the big toe and then removes bone spurs (bony growths) that are present, removes the cartilage in the joint and completely reshapes the joint itself. They then realign the joint to a corrected position and insert fixation hardware to secure the joint to allow for fusion. The incision is then closed with a plastic type technique to reduce scar formation, leaving an excellent cosmetic result. The patient is then placed in a splint and recovery begins. Recovery from these procedures generally takes 6 to 12 weeks. During a portion of this period, weight bearing on the operative foot will be gradually permitted.

By Dr. Warren Windram D.P.M. Foot & Ankle Surgeon

⊲ Dr. Windram specializes in foot & ankle reconstructive/trauma surgery, with a particular interest in total ankle joint replacement surgery. He has always been involved with podiatric surgical training, working as the podiatric surgical residency director at Memorial Health Care System. Dr. Windram is the current director of the Foot and Ankle Fellowship program at Westside

Regional Medical Center and a clinical instructor at Westside and Memorial Health Care System’s podiatric surgical residency programs. South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine 209 S.W. 84th Avenue, Plantation, FL 33324

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