Do you have pain in your great toe that prevents you from doing the activities of daily life?

Has your doctor told you that you might need surgery or a fusion?

Now there is a joint preserving solution that might be right for you.

Have you become frustrated because of the limitations of a painful toe?

Before we begin to explain a possible solution, it is important to understand the problem.

Anatomy of the great toe.

The great or big toe is an important part of how we walk. It needs to bend with every step we take. It has a major joint at its base called the metatarsalphalangeal joint or MTP joint. The MTP joint is where the metatarsal and phalangeal bones meet and articulate with one another. The ends of these bones are covered with a smooth articular cartilage that helps the bones move together freely.

How does cartilage get injured?

A variety of events can damage cartilage; some include trauma (injury), infection, inflammation, and malalignment. A traumatic injury can cause an isolated defect. Malalignment of the 2 bones can cause more widespread damage to the joint surfaces similar to the way the tires on a car lose their tread if the wheels are not properly aligned.

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