[Surgical treatment of hallux rigidus]

Hallux rigidus is a deformity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Symptoms include a painful reduction of mobility and increasing stiffness in the big toe. Only when conservative therapeutic methods have failed should surgical options be considered. The surgical technique depends on the stage of the deformity. For stadium I and II, the joint should be retained, for example by cheilectomy. In this case, a correction osteotomy of the phalanx or first metatarsus can follow. For stadium III and IV, the usual procedure is arthrodesis. Complications can involve an incorrect positioning of the big toe, pseudoarthrosis and arthrosis of the interphalangeal joint. For less active patients, a resection arthroplasty is also possible.