Long-Term Results of Hemiarthroplasty Compared With Arthrodesis for Osteoarthritis of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint

If operative treatment is opted for grade 3 and 4 osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, arthrodesis is considered the standard of care. However, if preservation of joint mobility is preferred, implant arthroplasty could be favored. Previous studies have suggested hemiarthroplasty might result in less pain, better function, and greater patient satisfaction compared with arthrodesis. However, these studies only evaluated short-term results (range 2.2 to 6.6 years). The aim of our study was to determine whether patients treated with hemiarthroplasty would show better postoperative outcomes compared with those treated with arthrodesis after ≥5 years after surgery. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hallux metatarsophalangeal interphalangeal (AOFAS-HMI) scale score was used as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes addressed satisfaction rates, patient procedure recommendation, and number of unplanned repeat surgical procedures. We also addressed the influence of the procedures on daily activities (work and sports), the influence of smoking on the postoperative results, and the costs for both procedures. A total of 47 primary arthrodeses and 31 hemiarthroplasties performed between January 2005 and December 2011 were evaluated. After a mean follow-up period of 8.3 (range 5 to 11.8) years, the mean AOFAS-HMI scale score after arthrodesis and hemiarthroplasty was 72.8 ± 14.5 and 89.7 ± 6.6, respectively (p = .001). The patients were significantly more pleased after hemiarthroplasty (p < .001), and this procedure was recommended more often (p < .001). The number of unplanned repeat surgical procedures did not differ between the 2 groups. Patients resumed sports activities significantly sooner after hemiarthroplasty (p = .002). The overall crude costs were similar for both procedures. Our results have shown more favorable postoperative outcomes for hemiarthroplasty compared with arthrodesis as operative treatment of osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint after a mean follow-up period of 8.3 years.