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The Use of a Synthetic Cartilage Implant for Hallux Rigidus

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: Hallux rigidus is one of the most common pathologies afflicting the foot. Various joint salvage techniques have been described with a multitude of different implants. Recently, a synthetic cartilage implant composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) received FDA premarket approval for treatment of arthritis of the great toe and has been used in over 4,000 cases. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the clinical evidence supporting the use of a PVA implant in hallux rigidus. Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Using the terms “cartiva OR polyvinyl alcohol OR synthetic cartilage OR hemiarthroplasty AND hallux rigidus OR great toe arthritis OR first toe arthritis “ we searched the PubMed/Medline database in December 2017. In addition, the reference list of publications were scanned for further relevant studies. Results: 4 studies met the inclusion criteria, all of which were derived from a single randomized controlled trial. At short-term follow-up (2 years), patients undergoing placement of a PVA implant had significant improvement in Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) sports and activity of daily living, as well as VAS pain scores. The outcomes of the surgery were found to be noninferior compared to arthrodesis. At intermediate follow-up (5 years), the improvement in clinical outcomes persisted and implant survivorship was 96%. Conclusion: There are limited studies available detailing the outcomes of a PVA implant for hallux rigidus, however the results that are available demonstrate a high level of evidence. There are no long-term publications assessing the outcomes of a PVA implant for hallux rigidus.