Total joint prosthetic arthroplasty of the great toe--a 12-year experience

This report describes the use of a double-stemmed flexible hinge silicone elastomer implant for use as a total joint replacement for the metatarsophalangeal joint of the great toe. Experience with this prosthesis has been since 1971 with 103 prostheses implanted in 71 patients with a minimum follow-up of 12 months and an average follow-up of 7.4 years. Of the 71 patients, 40 had osteoarthritis with 64 joints replaced, 22 had rheumatoid arthritis with 29 joints replaced, four patients were revised from a failed excisional hemiarthroplasty, three patients with four joints involved were revised from a failed silicone implant hemiarthroplasty, and two patients had a surgically arthrodesed metatarsophalangeal joint taken down and revised to a total joint arthroplasty. Of the total number of patients involved, eight were men, 63 were women, and the average age per joint was 56 years. The results were graded as excellent, good, fair, and poor on two bases: relief of pain and the cosmetic result. Overall results were good. On the basis of these results over a 12-year period, it was concluded that there is a place for total joint prosthetic replacement in the surgical reconstruction of the painful, destroyed metatarsophalangeal joint of the great toe.