Complications of Hallux Rigidus Surgery

Abstract

Hallux rigidus can be treated with a variety of surgical procedures, including joint preserving techniques, arthrodesis, and arthroplasty. The most commonly reported complications for joint preserving techniques consist of progression of arthritis, continued pain, and transfer metatarsalgia. Although good outcomes have been reported for arthrodesis overall, careful attention must be paid to technique and positioning of the toe to avoid nonunion or malunion. Arthroplasty preserves motion but in the case of failure can present the additional challenge of bone loss. In these scenarios, the authors recommend distraction bone block arthrodesis with structural autograft.

Keywords: Arthrodesis; Cheilectomy; Complications; Hallux rigidus; Hemiarthroplasty; Periarticular osteotomy; Synthetic cartilage implant.