Osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of arthritis that affects the joints, including the big toe. It is often a disease that progresses slowly, and where the cartilage in the joint is gradually destroyed. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.

Why does one develop osteoarthritis in the big toe?

It is often not known why osteoarthritis develops in the big toe. Sometimes the osteoarthritis is caused by previous fractures or injuries to the joint, which have caused the big toe to be crooked for a long time. Rheumatoid arthritis or gout can in other cases also destroy the articular cartilage. The incidence increases with age, but the disease can affect anyone from the age of 20.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis in the big toe

Often the osteoarthritis is combined with a crooked big toe as well as a bony prominence on top of the big toe. This causes pain, impaired gait function and reduced mobility – especially when the toe is moved upwards, as one is unable to step correctly over the toe.

How is osteoarthritis in the big toe treated?

The disease only requires treatment if there is pain. If one experiences mild symptoms, one should postpone an operation and try foot-shaped shoes, preferably with a stiff sole and a certain rocker function, which provides a rolling gait similar to MBT shoes. Anti-inflammatory medication or injection therapy can in some cases relieve the symptoms.

If the consultant (specialist doctor) finds an indication for surgery, there are several types of procedures, which depend on how advanced the osteoarthritis is.

If there is mild osteoarthritis, a so-called cheilectomy is often chosen, but if there is severe osteoarthritis, either a fusion operation or insertion of an artificial joint is performed.

In a fusion operation, the mobility in the big toe’s metatarsophalangeal joint is eliminated in order to achieve pain relief. Many patients do not experience this as a great loss, as they have already become accustomed to reduced mobility. The big toe’s interphalangeal joint retains its mobility.

If one chooses to insert an artificial joint, a certain degree of mobility in the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe is preserved – however, not everyone can be offered this type of operation.