Hallux Limitus and Hallux Rigidus Surgery

What's the difference between hallux rigidus and hallux limitus?

These 2 conditions are different degrees of osteoarthritis of the big toe joint. Osteoarthritis can result from overuse of the joint, an accident that never healed properly, or even a gout attack.

Find out more about Hallux Rigidus and Limitus symptoms >>

What surgeries are available for hallux rigidus or hallux limitus?

Some procedures rebuild and "clean" the joint. The podiatrist removes arthritic damage from the joint and the accompanying bone spurs. The qualified podiatrist may also choose to alter the position of one or more bones in the big toe.

These procedures are designed to preserve and restore normal joint alignment and function, and to reduce and, at best, eliminate pain.

Dr. Cantin-Langlois, a podiatrist with experience in foot surgery, is one of the few podiatrists to use a new implant that replaces only a tiny portion of the damaged cartilage in combination with the techniques mentioned above.  This implant is superior in many ways, since the old implants replaced the entire articular surface and had a limited lifespan.

More aggressive procedures are also used when the joint cannot be preserved (Hallux Rigidus). This involves fusion of the joint or removal of part of the joint. Fusion of a joint will eliminate the movement that created the pain and restore stability to the foot.

What are the steps and factors involved in selecting one or other of these procedures?

The procedure used to correct hallux limitus or rigidus depends on many factors, such as the cause and severity of the case, as well as the patient's age and activity level. Podiatrist Dr. Cantin-Langlois holds a postdoctoral residency in foot surgery and has extensive surgical experience to select the procedure best suited to your condition and needs.

Once surgery has been performed, recovery time varies according to several factors, so it's difficult to generalize.

If you would like to discuss your surgical options with Dr. Cantin-Langlois, podiatrist, please contact us for a consultation.