We asked members of our medical staff to answer some common questions they
hear from their patients.
Q: What are the options for great toe arthritis?
A: Great toe arthritis is one of the more common problems that I see. We often
start patients on special inserts or shoe modifications. If this fails,
there are some successful surgical options.
For early arthritis, this may include a procedure that involves debriding
or shaving down some the arthritic portions of the joint. Great toe fusion,
for more severe arthritis, has been used for many years. This is done
with a special plate and screw system. Patients can still do most of their
activities after this surgery, but running may be a little bit more difficult.
More recently there has been an interesting innovation to treat great toe
arthritis. This is called
Cartiva. It is an implant that involves not fusing the great toe joint, but providing
an artificial buffer using a material that is the same as in contact lenses.
The surgery is fairly fast with a good recovery, and we are able to restore
and maintain joint mobility without needed to fuse the joint.
Dr. Robert Grunfeld is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at
Powder River Orthopedics and Spine who specializes in foot and ankle procedures. The Board-certified physicians
at PROS take an innovative and comprehensive approach to the treatment
of acute and chronic orthopedic pain. Have your procedure in our modern
operating rooms at
Campbell County Memorial Hospital or
Powder River Surgery Center. See the PROS for:
- Foot and ankle surgery
- General orthopedic surgery
- Joint replacement surgery, including hip and knee
- Shoulder, elbow, and hand surgery
- Spine surgery, including minimally invasive procedures
- Sports medicine
For a consultation, call 307.686.1413 or visit
www.cchwyo.org/PROS.