Close-up of a bare foot resting in soft natural light in a clinic room
Treatments

Great toe arthritis (hallux rigidus)

If the base of your big toe has become stiff and sore, you may find it hard to push off when you walk, to kneel, or simply to find a comfortable shoe. Great toe arthritis — also known as hallux rigidus — is common and very treatable. The right operation depends on how much healthy cartilage remains, so Mr Kunasingam examines the joint and reviews weight-bearing X-rays before recommending anything.

What happens

Assessment

Weight-bearing X-rays show how much of the joint is left and where the wear is worst. That single distinction — how much healthy cartilage remains — decides which operation will actually help you.

Big toe keyhole surgery – minimally invasive surgery

Where the arthritis is early, the joint can be inspected and cleaned arthroscopically, and the bony spur that rubs inside a shoe removed through small incisions. It is a day case and spares you a long recovery.

Realigning or fusing the joint

A realignment osteotomy can shift pressure away from the worn part of the joint and try to preserve big toe joint movement. When the joint has worn through, fusion reliably removes the pain and leaves you with a stable toe that pushes off properly.

FAQ

Common questions about great toe arthritis (hallux rigidus)

Both ache at the base of the big toe, and they can occur together. A bunion is a bump and a change in shape; arthritis is stiffness and loss of movement, particularly when pushing off. Examining the joint and reviewing weight-bearing X-rays usually tells us which is causing your pain — and whether the same keyhole approach can help.

Other treatments