Hallux Degenerative Joint Disease

Hallux rigidus is one of the most common forefoot disorders, characterized by loss of motion and pain located at the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Its appearance is conditioned by a complex relation of several factors in which increased tension of the soft tissues surrounding the joint cause progressive chondral damage. Patients usually present pain at the lift phase of gait, while some degree of loss of range of motion is usually detected. According to the extent of joint involvement (radiographs are the first-line diagnostic method), treatment ranges from shoe modification to surgical procedures involving either joint-preservation surgeries or fusion/replacement of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. New lines of investigation include replacement with synthetic material that has characteristics comparable to healthy cartilage. Promising results are already reported in a continuous effort to find the best treatment possible in this challenging pathology.