Sick leave after surgery
Depending on the course of the disease, there comes a time when the patients can no longer practice their profession due to the pathological process and require a sick note. The aim is to spare the hallux rigidus for a certain period of time and to start a therapy in order to experience an improvement of the symptoms. Sometimes even a sick note is necessary until an operation and then for rehabilitation. However, this varies with the severity of the hallux rigidus and the demands of the job. Therefore, no definitive time period for a sick note can be given.
Summary
A hallux rigidus can be treated conservatively with a rigid insert or painkillers, or surgically, for example by removing disturbing bone material. There are a number of surgical methods to choose from, which are used depending on the degree of severity and the patient. In summary, it can be said that the surgical methods for the treatment of a hallux rigidus improve the problem of the bony structures and thus alleviate the symptoms.
However, after the operation there may still be restrictions in movement and pain, which are usually less pronounced than before the operation.
- A common surgical method is the so-called arthrodesis, which aims to stiffen the joint in question. This is done, for example, by inserting two screws across the joint space of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe so that the bones forming the joint are no longer movable against each other.
Although the stiffening prevents the pain-inducing movement, it also impairs the rolling motion of the foot, which in turn can be compensated by special shoes or physiotherapy.
- Another method of treating a hallux rigidus is the insertion of an artificial joint, in the case of an endoprosthesis, which can be implemented as resurfacing, i.e. a replacement of the surface of the head of the metatarsal. The optimized joint surfaces can improve both the restriction of movement and the resulting pain.
- Alternatively, a hallux rigidus can be treated with a cheilectomy. In this procedure, only the bony attachments on the surface of the big toe joint caused by the arthrosis are removed, without changing the joint surface itself. This can improve the impaired mobility of the joint, which can also reduce the pain.
- One method, which is considered to be more of a last resort, is the Keller-Brandes operation, in which the posterior part of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe is removed without replacement. In this case, however, there is a loss of stability of the joint and the foot, as well as a loss in the flexion of the foot in the direction of the sole of the foot.
