01
December
2018
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07:00 AM
America/New_York

How to Treat Painful Toe Arthritis

Andrew J. Elliott, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS, pens a byline for Autumn Years about treating toe arthritis.

The foot is an intricate structure made up of 28 bones and over 30 joints. When cartilage wears away, the small bones can start rubbing together causing painful toe arthritis.

Dr. Elliott writes that there are non-surgical treatments including modifying activities, anti-inflammatories and even PRP injections. When those do not provide enough relief, people may consider surgical intervention.

Additionally, there is a new surgical option involving a synthetic cartilage implant that has been shown to provide pain relief and preserve motion in the toe. Made from the same material used in contact lenses, this implant works well in the right patient.

The full article is in the Winter 2018/2019 print edition.