Turf toe is a condition that can develop if the toe joint is bent too far in one direction. This action results in the tearing or stretching of supportive soft tissues and ligaments in the area. These soft tissues help to stabilize the toe joint, so if they become damaged to the point that they can no longer provide stability to the toe, a number of foot and toe problems can develop alongside pain and discomfort.
One of the more common results in the aftermath of a turf toe injury is that onset of Hallux Rigidus, or arthritis of the great toe joint. There are 4 grades of Hallux Rigidus, each with different levels of severity.
| Grade | Loss of Range of Motion | X-ray Findings | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20-45% | Dorsal spurs | Pain with activity |
| 2 | 50-75% | Mild flattening of big toe joint, joint narrowing, or bone spurs | Moderate pain |
| 3 | 90% | Severe radiographic changes with huge cysts | Constant moderate to severe pain |
| 4 | Stiff Joint | Loose pieces of bone or large bone cysts | Severe pain |
Turf Toe Treatment Options
Dr. Silverman also put together a short video on how Big Toe Arthritis is often treated. Take a closer look in the one-minute video below.
- Option I: Do nothing and live with it.
- Option II: Non-surgical treatment with a rigid insert in the shoe that prevents the great toe from bending. In athletes (and most people that walk) this doesn’t effectively relieve the problem and it also limits shoewear choices. Injections can also be used for temporary relief, but they can’t be repeated too many times.
- Option III: Surgery to fix the problem. Surgery for Grade 1 and 2 injuries includes removing spurs. For Grades 3 and 4, more needs to be done to ensure the problem doesn’t recur. Many doctors simply try to apply the spur removal surgery to Grade 3 and 4 injuries. This provides short term relief, but the problem is likely to return within five years.
When surgery is required to fix a toe with Hallux Rigidus, Dr. Silverman’s preferred procedure is a Soft Tissue Arthroplasty. This involves removing the arthritis and replacing the cartilage with the body’s own tissue. Results from this surgery are incredible. This procedure is not performed by many doctors because fusion is the “gold standard.” But remember, you can always do a fusion,but you can’t undo a fusion. Since he began doing this procedure in 2005, Dr. Silverman has only had to take one patient back to the operating room.
No matter what your problem, Dr. Silverman will work with you to provide the best individualized treatment. For a list of common orthopedic ankle and foot conditions click here.
