Gelfoam first metatarsophalangeal replacement/interposition arthroplasty--a case series with functional outcomes

Reported below are the functional results of a case-series of Gelfoam®-based first metatarsophalangeal total joint replacements using an interposition arthroplasty technique carried out between April 1997 and December 2007. All patients who underwent Gelfoam-based arthroplasty under the care of a single surgeon were included; outcome scores and complications were recorded. A total of 31 joints in 31 consecutive patients were followed for a mean duration of 64 (range 24-150) months, and the mean patient age at the time of operation was 48±9 (range 35-80) years. Hallux rigidus was the primary diagnosis in all of the cases except one in which a failed chevron ostetomy was the indication for treatment. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Hallux-Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal score increased from an average of 35 pre-operatively to an average of 74 at final follow-up (range 67-100), with 20 (64.5%) joints rated good to excellent. One (3.5%) joint was fused 6 months after the arthroplasty procedure. Based on these results, we concluded that first MTPJ total joint Gelfoam™-based interpostion arthroplasty is a cheap alternative to other joint replacement systems for the MTP joint. The results appear similar to those achieved using more expensive devices.