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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Wednesday's Article of the Week: Possible Future of Synthetic Cartilage Injections in the Big Toe Joint for Hallux Limitus/Rigidus

The article below discusses the complex world of research around Synthetic Cartilage injections for Hallux Limitus/Rigidus. Every Podiatrist is waiting anxiously for approval of a synthetic substance to act like a new cartilage pillow within the big toe joint when injured. In this proposed study, intra-articular Hyaluronan (Synvisc) would be injected into every other patient and sterile saline (salt water) into the other 50%. Everything else would be equal. It would be the only treatment for a 6 month period. Patients would be evaluated many ways:

  • pain levels
  • function levels
  • pain with walking and at rest
  • amount of stiffness in the big toe joint
  • amount of measured big toe joint dorsiflexion
  • plantarflexion strength across the big toe joint
  • global satisfaction to treatment
  • overall health related quality of life
  • magnitude of symptom changes throughout the day
  • use of pain relieving medications
  • changes in measured pressures in walking of the ball of the foot
Data will be collected at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months
Up to 3 shots will be given each patient based on symptom relief
Data will be analyzed using the Intent to Treat Principle and other common forms of objective testing.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2636797/?report=classic

Dancer's Pads used to off weight Hallux Limitus/Rigidus when it is sore to put weight on the big toe joint.

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Thank you very much for leaving a comment. Due to my time restraints, some comments may not be answered.I will answer questions that I feel will help the community as a whole.. I can only answer medical questions in a general form. No specific answers can be given. Please consult a podiatrist, therapist, orthopedist, or sports medicine physician in your area for specific questions.