CLINICAL RESULTS AFTER CHEILECTOMY FOR HALLUX RIGIDUS

Abstract

Introduction: Hallux rigidus is a disease refers to pain and limitation of motion of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the great toe. If the conservative treatment is ineffective for patients with grade I and grade II changes then cheilectomy can relief pain for a long time. In this study we evaluated the shortterm clinical results after cheilectomy for hallux rigidus.
Patients and methods: Hallux rigidus of 12 patients were treated with cheilectomy between September 1999 and October 2000. The mean follow up was 18 months (6-40) and the mean age was 49 (44-54). All the patients were female. Preoperative radiographic evaluation revealed that four feet was grade I, seven feet grade II and one foot grade III as for Hattrup and Johnson’s classification. We evaluated pre-versus postoperative changes in metatarsophalangeal dorsiflexion degree, pain and difficulty in footwear selection.
Results: Dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint improved an average of 20 degrees in all but one patient. The patient with poor result was grade III hallux rigidus of whom preoperative 20 degrees of dorsiflexion did not change postoperatively. Relief of pain was achieved in all but one case which was grade III. Footwear selection was improved in all cases. No complication has been recorded.
Discussion: If conservative treatment is ineffective for grade I - II hallux rigidus, cheilectomy is a safe and effective treatment method.