The Relationship Between Limb Dominance and 1st Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthritis

To our knowledge there is no current literature evaluating the relationship between 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthritis and limb dominance.

This proposed retrospective study sought to evaluate if a relationship exists between limb dominance and the development of 1st MTPJ arthritis.

A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 1st, 2018-January 1st, 2024 on patients who underwent 1st MTPJ arthrodesis by surgeons throughout all locations at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

We hypothesized that patients would develop 1st MTPJ arthritis in their dominant foot. We hypothesized that patients would develop 1st MTPJ arthritis on the ipsilateral side of their dominant hand. Patients were contacted by telephone and after consenting, were asked 4 questions to determine leg dominance and 4 questions to determine hand dominance.

Patients over the age of 18, who underwent 1st MTPJ arthrodesis for 1st MTPJ arthritis. Patients who identified as ambidextrous, and patients with hallux valgus were excluded.

Forty patients who met the inclusion criteria completed the telephone survey. Twenty seven of 40 patients underwent 1st MTPJ arthrodesis on their dominant foot. Twenty eight of 40 patients underwent 1st MTPJ arthrodesis on the foot ipsilateral to their dominant hand. The observed agreement for both hand and leg dominance was significantly higher than 50%, p=0.017 and p=0.039, respectively.

The study shows that most patients developed 1st MTPJ arthritis in their dominant foot. Also, most patients developed 1st MTPJ arthritis on the foot ipsilateral to their dominant hand.