Hallux Rigidus

• Joint pain, swelling of the big toe joint
• Loss of range of motion of the big toe joint
• Bony growth over the big toe joint

Hallux rigidus is diagnosed after thorough history and physical exam with your foot and ankle specialist. X-rays are an important part of determining the severity of the arthritis.

• Shoe wear modification – Helps to limit movement over the big toe joint
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Steroid or “cortisone” injections into the big toe joint can reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
• CBD – CBD is a natural, nonsurgical way to help treat joint pain and inflammation
• PRP and Stem Cell (Link to stem cell page) injections are nonsurgical ways to treat pain and inflammation associated with big toe arthritis.
• Surgery

Your foot and ankle surgeon will discuss many surgical options for treating arthritis of the big toe joint. The decision for surgery is usually made after all other treatment options are exhausted and pain has not improved.

• Cheilectomy is removal of the bone spurs. This is utilized if there is large bone spur formation but the articular cartilage is not completely eroded
• Total joint replacement with metallic or silicone implant is a way of resurfacing the worn articular surface and restoring the joint space to decrease the friction of the bones.
• Joint fusion is done when the pain from movement in an arthritic joint is no longer tolerable. A joint with worn surfaces that does not have a replacement option may be fused so that it is no longer movable.