Abstract
Background : We investigated the clinical and radiological results of Swanson Flexible Hinge Toe for rheumatoid forefoot deformities. The purposes of the present study were to assess the results of Swanson Flexible Hinge Toe implant arthroplasty for rheumatoid great toe deformity concomitant with resection arthroplasty for lateral toes deformities.
Methods : There were 17 feet in 10 rheumatoid arthritis women and the average age at the time of surgery was 68 years. Patients were followed for an average of 9.1 months. A Swanson Flexible Hinge Toe implant was placed in the first metatarsophalangeal joint in all feet.
Results : The average hallux valgus (HV) angle was corrected from 36.8° to 23.4° (p<0.01) . The averaged visual analogue scale (VAS) score for forefoot pain was improved from 7.0 to 1.4 (p<0.01) . The VAS and satisfaction scores were improved after this surgery. Patients whose satisfaction score was grade 5 showed significantly smaller postoperative HV angles than those with satisfaction scores of grade 4 and under (p<0.05) . Patients with postoperative HV angles under 25° showed higher satisfaction scores than those with 25°or more (p<0.01) . The surgical corrective HV angle was about 16°. Patients with a postoperative HV angle of under 25°were significantly more satisfied with the surgery.
Conclusion : Patients with postoperative HV angles under 25° were satisfied with Swanson Flexible Hinge Toe implant arthroplasty.
