Hallux Rigidus

Foot & Ankle Conditions

1. Ankle Instability
2. Ankle Impingement
3. OCD of Talus
4. Foot Drop
5. Arthritis around Ankle


1. Insertional Achilles Tendinosis
2. Haglund's deformity
3. Planter Fasciitis
4. Other cause of heel pain


1. Flat foot/Pes planus
2. High Arched foot/Cavus foot/ Pes cavus
3. Mid foot Arthritis
4. Stress fracture
5. Planter fibromatosis
6. Deformity of Foot Arch
7. Accessory Navicular


1. Hallux valgus/Bunion
2. Hallux rigidus
3. Hallux varus
4. ingrowing toenail
5. Painfull sesamoids
6. Arthritis around Great Toe


1. Mallet toe
2. Hammer toe
3. Claw Toe
4. Bunionet


1. Complex deformities- cross over toe, Rheumatoid foot
2. Athlets feet
3. Corn's & Callosities
4. Morton's Neuroma
5. Metatersalgia


1. Non insertional Achilles Tendinosis
2. Achilles Tendon Injury / rupture
3. Tibialis Posterior Tendon Dysfunction
4. Flexor Hallucis tendon irritation
5. Peroneal Tendinopathy


1. Ankle Sprain
2. Ankle Fractures
3. Talus fracture
4. Calcaneum Fracture
5. Lisfranc's Injury
6. Midfoot fracture
7. fracture metatersal neck
8. Turf Toe injury

Hallux Rigidus

As the name suggests this is a condition where the big toe becomes stiff. Our big toe appears small but its role in our mobility and activities is enormous. An important movement of big-toe happens at metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, which joins the first long bone (metatarsal) in the forefoot to the first bone of the big toe (phalanx). Every time you take a step, the MTP joint bends, allowing the foot to roll forward and push. So if this joint become stiff then walking, running squatting will be difficult and painful. Hallux rigidus is a kind of degenerative arthritis of MTP joint. At the initial period when toe is not totally stiff but there is some limited painful movement, it is called hallux limitus.

  • Hereditary
  • Structural abnormality of forefoot or big toe leading to arthritic changes of MTP joint
  • Faulty biomechanics of foot leading to arthritic changes of MTP joint
  • Injuries to big toe
  • Hallux valgus
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Pain around MTP joint
  • Stiffness of big toe
  • Reduced range of motion of big toe
  • Feeling of weakness around joint
  • Intense pain after prolonged standing or walking

Whenever you experience any of the above symptom you should visit a foot & ankle specialist

Your doctor will evaluate your current symptom as well as any past history of trauma or any other condition affecting great toe. He would carefully examine your foot for range of motion, stiffness and tenderness at big toe and forefoot. He may ask you to undergo imaging such as X-ray to have a better insight of the joint space.

CONSERVATIVE

  • NSAIDs, over the counter pain medication, icing helps in pain relief.
  • Activity Modification- Avoid activity that trigger the pain and restrict movements
  • Physiotherapy- exercise to improve joint movement and gait training
  • Orthotics- Shoe modification and orthosis helps in offloading painful area and thus reduces pain

Surgical

  • Cheilectomy- shaving the bone spur on top of the metatarsal
  • Arthrodesis- the damaged cartilage of big toe is removed and the two bones are fixed together with screws and/or plates