Assessment and Management of Atraumatic First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Pain.

Nontraumatic pain in the first metatarsophalangeal joint is frequent and can be debilitating. The metatarsophalangeal joint complex comprises four articulating surfaces including the first metatarsal, the proximal phalanx, and tibial and fibular sesamoids, which are all contained within a synovial capsule. The most common causes of pain are hallux valgus and hallux rigidus. However, other diagnoses, such as functional hallux limitus, sesamoiditis, gout, and inflammatory autoimmune arthritis, need to be considered as well. A systematic approach is key to accurately diagnose the source of pain, which can sometimes be the result of more than one condition. The most important clinical information to obtain is a focused history, meticulous clinical examination based on understanding the precise anatomy and biomechanics of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, and analysis of the relevant imaging. Each pathology has a different treatment algorithm, as such, understanding the pathoanatomy and biomechanics is important in forming an effective treatment plan.

Comparison of the efficacies of peloid therapy and paraffin treatment given as an adjuncts to exercise therapy in patients with hallux rigidus: a randomized, uncontrolled, prospective study.

Although it is thought that peloid and paraffin treatments may have positive effect on pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients with hallux rigidus (HR), there are no comprehensive and comparative studies with a high level of evidence. We aimed to compare peloid and paraffin treatments in symptomatic hallux rigidus patients. A total of 113 patients diagnosed with HR between May 2019 and June 2021 were included in the study. After exclusion criteria, the remaining 90 patients were randomly divided into two groups: the peloid therapy group (peloid therapy + home exercise) and the paraffin therapy group (paraffin therapy + home exercise). Peloid and paraffin treatments were applied for 2 weeks (5 days a week for a total of 10 sessions). Patients were evaluated before treatment, at the end of treatment, and one month after treatment. The groups were compared in terms of pain, functional status, quality of life, and joint range of motion. In the final analysis, 40 patients in each treatment group were compared. Statistically significant improvements were achieved for all parameters at the end of treatment and at follow-up, and the treatments were found to be highly effective. As a result of the comparison, the methods were not found to be superior to each other. The present study is the first randomized study comparing peloid therapy and paraffin therapy given as an adjuncts to exercise therapy. Exercise therapy plus peloid and exercise therapy plus paraffin treatments seem to have similar effects on HR; however, controlled trials are necessary for confirmation of our results.

Diagnosis and conservative management of great toe pathologies: a review.

Acute great toe (Hallux) pain is a common complaint encountered by the primary care physician. Pathological conditions can vary from acute trauma to acute exacerbation of underlying chronic conditions. Delay in treatment or misdiagnosis can lead to debilitating loss of function and long-lasting pain. This review endeavors to discuss the pertinent history, physical exam findings, radiographic evidence, conservative treatment options, and surgical management for the musculoskeletal causes of acute and acute on chronic great toe pain in the adult population. The acute pathologies discussed in this review are hallux fractures and dislocations, turf toe, sand toe, and sesamoid disorders. The chronic pathologies discussed include hallux rigidus, hallux valgus, and chronic sesamoiditis.

Motion Preservation in Hallux Rigidus After Failure of Hydrogel Implantation: Treatment Considerations and a Report of 2 Cases.

Hallux rigidus is a common condition treated daily by surgeons worldwide. During the past decade, the standard treatment algorithm has been questioned by both patients and surgeons seeking alternatives to arthrodesis, which was previously considered the gold standard for advanced disease. Patients are living longer, and many have a more active lifestyle; thus, recreating and improving range of motion and achieving pain relief are increasingly desirable. The treatment spectrum and implant options for motion-preserving techniques in the metatarsophalangeal joint has been widened with the recent US Food and Drug Administration approval of a polyvinyl-alcohol hydrogel implant. In the controlled US Food and Drug Administration trial, the 2-year revision rate was 9.2% and all failures were revised to a first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis. Outcomes comparison of these revisions to primary fusions showed less predictable pain relief and may warrant alternative treatment considerations, preferably those that allow for continuation of motion preservation. Revision of failed hydrogel implants to arthrodesis can be performed through various first metatarsophalangeal fusion techniques or, as introduced in this review, with a fourth-generation threaded hemiarthroplasty. Excellent 10-year results with primary hemiarthroplasty supported its use as revision procedure in 2 failed polyvinyl-alcohol implantations, preserving arthrodesis for future salvage if necessary. The purpose of this report was to outline a motion-preserving technique after failed hydrogel implants and describe preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative considerations for optimized outcomes.

Common Foot Problems: Over-the-Counter Treatments and Home Care.

Most foot disorders do not require podiatry referral or complex interventions. After the clinical diagnosis is made, these conditions can typically be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) and home remedies, with guidance from the primary care physician. Stretching and strengthening exercises, along with the use of heel cups, resolve most plantar fasciitis cases and are at least as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroid injections. Hallux rigidus is best managed with a hard-soled shoe or rigid insert that relieves pain by restricting motion across the metatarsophalangeal joint. Hallux valgus responds to use of wide toe box shoes, and surgery is not clearly beneficial beyond one year. Plantar warts can be treated effectively at home with OTC salicylic acid and cryotherapy topical agents, which have equal effectiveness to liquid nitrogen. In patients with corns and calluses, OTC topical salicylic acid has short-term benefits, and pads and inserts that more evenly redistribute contact forces have long-term benefits. Inserts are commonly recommended to redistribute forefoot pressure and relieve pain. Several OTC preparations are available for the treatment of tinea pedis, with topical allylamines being the most effective. Although OTC topical treatments have been widely used for onychomycosis, they have poor long-term cure rates compared with prescription oral medications.

A comprehensive and narrative review of historical aspects and management of low-grade hallux rigidus: conservative and surgical possibilities.

Hallux rigidus, Latin for Stiff Toe, is characterized by an osteoarthritic degeneration of the articular surfaces of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The aim of this literature narrative overview is to summarize and expose the great amount of management concepts and information, including the well-codified operative procedures and the more up to date knowledge about non-operative and surgical treatment of hallux rigidus. This may provide current information for physicians, medschool attendants and researchers. A comprehensive literature search using PubMed database has been performed, up to April 1, 2017. Several different types of treatment are described in the literature for low-grade hallux rigidus. The management for hallux rigidus can involve a variety of therapeutic interventions, conservative or operative. Hallux rigidus is a complex disease characterized by several clinical and pathological findings, and to achieve optimal results, surgical treatment for low-grade forms should be chosen between several surgical techniques depending on the degree of arthritis and other different clinical conditions.

Clinical Presentation and Management of Hallux Rigidus.

Hallux rigidus is the most commonly occurring arthritic condition of the foot and is marked by pain, limited motion in the sagittal plane of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and varying degrees of functional impairment. In conjunction with clinical findings, radiographic grading helps guide therapeutic choices. Nonsurgical management with anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, or shoewear and activity modifications can be successful in appropriately selected patients. Patients with more severe disease or refractory to conservative management may benefit from surgical intervention. Operative options range from joint-preserving procedures (eg, cheilectomy with or without associated osteotomies) to joint-altering procedures (eg, arthroplasty or arthrodesis).

[Proposed global treatment algorithm for hallux rigidus according to evidence-based medicine]. / Propuesta de algoritmo global de tratamiento del hallux rigidus según la medicina basada en la evidencia.

INTRODUCTION: Hallux rigidus is the most common arthritis of the foot and ankle. There are numerous reviews on the surgical treatment, but few publications that address the effectiveness of conservative treatment. OBJECTIVE: To present a comprehensive algorithm for treatment of all grades of this disease. METHODS: Literature search in the following sources: Pubmed and PEDro database (physiotherapy evidence database) until October 2013 for articles on treatment hallux rigidus to record levels of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 112 articles were obtained on conservative treatment and 609 on surgical treatment. Finally, only 4 met the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The use of orthoses or footwear modifications, infiltration with hyaluronate, cheilectomy in moderate degrees and the metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis for advanced degrees, are the only procedures contrasted with grade B or moderate evidence in the treatment of hallux rigidus.

Joint-preserving procedure for moderate hallux rigidus.

Hallux rigidus is a complex disorder, and numerous surgical procedures have been described for its management. Although the optimal technique has yet to be defined, it is important to individualize the degree of arthritis as well as other clinical features (metatarsal index, pain characteristics, and so forth) of each patient to achieve optimal results. The authors firmly believe that for patients with only dorsal pain, a cheilectomy is the ideal choice because good and reliable results can be achieved. When pain is also present around the joint or is combined, which is the most common scenario, their main choice now is to perform a decompressive osteotomy. The biomechanics of the joint are more adequately restored, soft tissues are relaxed, and remodeling of the contracted tissues is allowed. More investigation has still to be performed to elucidate the origin of this abnormality.

Tratamiento del Hallux Rigidus. A propósito de un caso / Treatment of Hallux rigidus. A propos of a case

En este artículo se describió la definición, la anatomía, la etiología, la clínica, el diagnóstico y las estrategias terapéuticas utilizadas en la actualidad, ya sean conservadoras o quirúrgicas, del Hallux Rígidus. En él se presentó la resolución de un caso clínico atendido en nuestra consulta donde la paciente presentaba dolor unilateral en el recorrido del Músculo Tibial Posterior de un año de evolución y ausencia total de la movilidad de la primera articulación metatarso-falángica del pie izquierdo. Se le diagnosticó de Hiperpronación de Retropié Bilateral y de Hallux Rígidus secundario del pie izquierdo. El objetivo principal fue reducir la sintomatología que presentaba la paciente, a su vez, conseguir disminuir la hiperpronación del retropié y favorecer una mayor funcionalidad en el primer segmento dígito-metatarsal(AU)

This article describes the definition, anatomy,etymology, clinical, diagnostic and the therapeutic strategies currently used, both chirurgic and palliative, for Hallux Rigidus. The methodology used to describe all of the above terms was the resolution of a real clinical case at the University of Barcelona Podiatrist Hospital during my last year of studies forthe degree of Podiatry at the same University. The patient who agreed to be part of the study suffered from unilateral pain in posterior tibial muscle and total lack of mobility of the first articulation metatarsal-phalanges of the left foot. The symptoms appeared a year before this study was conducted. The diagnosis of the patient was bilateralr-pronation of the bilateral and with secondary Hallux Rigidus in the left foot. The main objective of the study was to reduce the symptoms suffered by the patient; the secondary objective was to find an appropriate treatment that would reduce the patient’s overpronation to gain some functionality of the first segment(AU)

Hallux rígidus: etiología, diagnóstico, clasificación y tratamiento / Hallux rígidus: aetiology, diagnosis, classification and treatment

El hallux rígidus es una patología degenerativa y progresiva de la articulación metatarsofalángica del hallux, cuyo principal síntoma es el dolor y la pérdida de la movilidad articular. Existen distintos mecanismos etiológicos que se han involucrado en su desarrollo y la anamnesis clínica y los exámenes radiológicos son indispensables para llegar a su preciso diagnóstico y poder concretar el correcto estadio evolutivo, con la finalidad de efectuar un adecuado tratamiento en cada caso. El tratamiento quirúrgico está indicado en la mayoría de casos y es indispensable tener un amplio conocimiento de las diversas técnicas quirúrgicas para realizar el tratamiento correcto a cada paciente (AU)

Hallux rígidus is a degenerative and progressive disease of the metatarsal phalangeal joint of the hallux, with its main symptoms being pain and loss of joint movement. Different aetiological mechanisms are involved in its development, and clinical anamnesis and radiological examinations are essential for an accurate diagnosis and to be able to establish the correct stage of progression, with the aim of giving suitable treatment in each case. Surgical treatment is indicated in most cases and is necessary to know all the surgical techniques to make the right treatment for each patient (AU)

Hallux rigidus: etiology, biomechanics, and nonoperative treatment.

Hallux rigidus is a degenerative osteoarthritic process characterized by progressive loss of metatarsophalangeal joint range of motion and notable dorsal or periarticular osteophyte formation. Documented factors associated with hallux rigidus are a flat or chevron-shaped joint, hallux valgus interphalangeus, metatarsus adductus, bilaterality in persons with a positive family history, trauma history in unilateral cases, and female gender. Elevation of the first ray noted radiographically is thought to be a sign of worsening metatarsophalangeal joint function. Nonoperative care is aimed at improving comfort of the toe and foot with roomy shoes, selective joint injections, taping, and selective use of orthotics.

Foot and ankle injuries in dance.

Although dancers develop overuse injuries common in other athletes, they are also susceptible to unique injuries. This article reviews common foot and ankle problems seen in dancers and provides some basic diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Orthotic management for disorders of the hallux.

Most disease conditions that affect the hallux are amenable to conservative treatment. Most of the literature that addresses the treatment of hallux rigidus, bunions, sesamoid problems, and arthritis focus on surgical management, although operative indications stress the need for attempted conservative treatment of these processes. This article reviews the technical considerations that are required for successful orthotic management of disease of the first ray. Mechanical terminology and principles of management are reviewed and examples of orthotic prescriptions for specific disease entities are included to facilitate communication between the orthopedist and orthotist.

Tenosynovitis of the flexor hallucis longus: a clinical study of the spectrum of presentation and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms associated with flexor hallucis longus (FHL) pathology can manifest themselves anywhere along its length from the posterior leg to the plantar foot and the hallux. This study describes the spectrum of clinical presentations seen with FHL pathology, illustrates the relevant physical examination findings, and outlines a treatment approach. MATERIALS: Computerized medical data was prospectively collected on 81 patients treated between January, 1997 and March, 2002. The 55 females and 26 males had an average age of 38.3 years, with a mean follow-up of 21.3 months. Forty-five of 81 had previous therapy that failed, usually for "plantar fasciitis." Twenty-seven were active athletically and 24 related the onset of symptoms to a specific traumatic episode. Pain was located at the posteromedial ankle in 40, plantar heel in 23, plantar midfoot in 22, and multiple locations in 16. All patients had tenderness of the FHL. Restriction of FHL excursion was demonstrated in 30 patients by limited hallux metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion when the ankle was dorsiflexed ("FHL stretch test"). Thirty-four patients had magnetic resonance imaging of the FHL, 28 (82%) of which were positive for synovitis of the FHL. Treatment included an FHL stretching program, short-term immobilization, and operative decompression and synovectomy in patients for whom nonoperative treatment failed. RESULTS: Of the 58 patients treated nonoperatively, 37 (64%) had successful results. Twenty-three patients had surgery, 20 at the posterior ankle fibro-osseous tunnel, and three in the sesamoid region. All patients treated operatively had successful outcomes. A subset of 10 patients had hallux rigidus symptoms without significant osteophyte formation. All 10 obtained successful results with treatment directed at restoring normal FHL excursion (nine nonoperatively, one by FHL release). This suggests that limited FHL excursion may be an etiology for the development of hallux rigidus. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical syndromes related to the FHL are more frequent than previously reported. The close relationship of the FHL to commonly injured structures (such as the plantar fascia) contributes to significant delays in effective treatment.

Foot deformities: biomechanical and pathomechanical changes associated with aging, Part I.

This article reviews the most common foot deformities and pedal pathomechanical conditions that often result in pain and disability in the elderly. A description of the deformity or condition, its etiology, presenting symptoms, and various nonsurgical approaches to treatment are explored. The primary goal in all cases is to maintain or improve the patient's ability for comfortable, independent ambulation.