[Functional hallux limitus (Fhl): a new explanation for overuse pathologies]

Functional Hallux limitus (Fhl) is still a misconceived and unappreciated clinical entity, being often diagnosed during a clinical examination or a podiatric assessment. In the presence of Fhl, the patient's gait necessitates the unwitting existence of complementary efforts on their part, thus resembling to the gait pattern of someone with elongated foot or feet. The consequences of this dysfunction affect all age groups and manifest themselves in the form of low back pain, impingement, sprain, joint incongruence, or overload tendon and fibro-osseous lesions. An elongated foot gait pattern increases the stress applied to bones and joints and subsequently disrupts equilibrium. The biomechanical changes induced by Fhl mandate a profound reconsideration of our way of thinking and analysis, hence a revision of our reference system. It is indeed a new paradigm shift.

Relationship between foot type, foot deformity, and ulcer occurrence in the high-risk diabetic foot

We hypothesized an association between foot type, foot deformity, and foot ulceration and conducted an analysis of a well-characterized, high-risk diabetic population of 398 subjects. The average age was 62 years of age and 74% of the study population were males. Foot-type distributions were 19.5% pes cavus (high arch), 51.5% neutrally aligned (normal arch), and 29.0% pes planus (low arch). We quantified the presence of hallux valgus (23.9%), hammer/claw toes (46.7%), and hallux limitus (24.4%). A significant association was found between foot type and hallux valgus (p = 0.003); pes planus feet had the highest prevalence as compared with neutrally aligned feet (odds ratio [OR] = 2.43, p = 0.0006). Foot type was also significantly associated with fixed hammer/claw toes (p = 0.01); pes cavus feet had the highest prevalence as compared with neutrally aligned feet (OR = 3.89, p = 0.001). Foot type was also significantly associated with hallux limitus (p = 0.006) with pes planus feet having the highest prevalence as compared with neutrally aligned feet (OR = 2.19, p = 0.003). However, foot type was not significantly related to any ulcer outcome (p = 0.7). Fixed hammer/claw toes (OR = 3.91, p = 0.003) and hallux limitus (OR = 3.02, p = 0.006) were associated with increased risk of any ulcer occurrence. This study affirms that foot type and foot deformity are related and that foot deformities are associated with ulcer occurrence.

The relationship between hallux dorsiflexion and ankle joint complex frontal plane kinematics: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that the function of the first metatarsophalangeal joint may be related to the motion of the ankle joint complex.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the relationship between ankle joint complex and first metatarsophalangeal joint motion during gait in a group of 14 who demonstrated clinically limited passive hallux dorsiflexion in quiet standing (cases), and 15 matched controls.

METHOD

An electromagnetic tracking system was used to measure the ankle joint complex frontal plane motion and first metatarsophalangeal joint sagittal plane motion during gait, in both cases and controls. The case group was then evaluated further to investigate the effect of an orthosis on first metatarsophalangeal joint motion.

FINDINGS

The correlation between maximum ankle joint complex eversion and maximum first metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion during gait was r=0.471. Within the case group, maximum rearfoot eversion was reduced following the application of the orthoses, but there was no change in sagittal first metatarsophalangeal joint rotations.

INTERPRETATION

The relationship between maximum ankle joint complex eversion and first metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion kinematics found in this study was moderate, and decreasing maximum ankle joint complex eversion with an orthosis did not result in any increase in first metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion during gait in patients with functional first metatarsophalangeal joint limitation. These results do not support the assumption that ankle joint complex eversion influences first metatarsophalangeal joint motion substantially.

Sensitivity and specificity of the functional hallux limitus test to predict foot function

Functional hallux limitus is an underrecognized entity that generally does not produce symptoms but can result in a variety of compensatory mechanisms that can produce symptoms. Clinically, hallux limitus can be determined by assessing the range of motion available at the first metatarsophalangeal joint while the first ray is prevented from plantarflexing. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this clinical test to predict abnormal excessive midtarsal joint function during gait. A total of 86 feet were examined for functional hallux limitus and abnormal pronation of the midtarsal joint during late midstance. The test had a sensitivity of 0.72 and a specificity of 0.66, suggesting that clinicians should consider functional hallux limitus when there is late midstance pronation of the midtarsal joint during gait.

A retrospective analysis of 772 patients with hallux limitus

In this retrospective analysis of 772 patients with symptomatic hallux limitus, 428 patients (55%) were successfully treated with conservative care alone; of these 428 patients, 362 (84%) were treated with orthoses. Corticosteroid injections and a change in shoes allowed 24 patients (6% of conservatively treated patients) and 42 patients (10%), respectively, to have less discomfort and return to previous activity levels. Overall, 47% of the patients in this analysis were successfully treated with orthoses. Surgical procedures were performed on 296 patients (38% of all patients) who did not respond to conservative care. In this analysis, 48 of the patients (6% of all patients) who did not respond to conservative care either refused surgery or were not surgical candidates. These data are intended to provide podiatric physicians with expected outcomes for conservative care of hallux limitus. The etiology, symptoms, conservative management, and surgical treatments of hallux limitus and hallux rigidus are also reviewed.

The use of osteotomies in the treatment of hallux limitus and hallux rigidus

Though osteotomies for relief of hallux limitus and rigidus have been around since the earliest surgical corrections, no sound clinical studies have been performed to warrant their use over the standard accepted techniques of cheilectomy and arthrodesis. These operations are surely more technically demanding than such standard procedures, and involve significant increased risk and postoperative immobilization than cheilectomy alone. Sound theories such as metatarsus primus elevatus and excessive metatarsal length contributing to hallux rigidus have never been proven, and no accurate way to diagnose these structural deformities has been proposed. These operations are intriguing and some make clinical sense. It remains to be seen whether the orthopedic community will adopt them based on their merits.