The Hallux rigidus splint
Often the last possibility to treat a hallux rigidus appropriately is surgery. At the end of this procedure, a wire is usually inserted lengthwise into the foot to support the operated metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe during the first days and weeks of recovery and to secure the position of the toe, but this is often not sufficient. In many patients, either deformations in the joint area reoccur after all or the rollover process remains painful.
To avoid this, some doctors prescribe a Hallux rigidus splint for their patients after surgery. This splint is applied around the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, which can usually be easily done by the patient himself without medical help. The tightness of the Hallux rigidus splint can be varied according to individual requirements with the help of Velcro fasteners.
Their purpose is to prevent a progressive curvature of the joint and to relieve the joint. Some patients find wearing such a splint uncomfortable. On the one hand, it exerts considerable pressure on the already damaged toe joint, and on the other hand, it is normally difficult to wear it in a shoe.
For this reason, it is usually recommended to wear the Hallux rigidus splint during the night or, for the time being, only by the hour during the day to get used to it. In most cases, the splint, which is available in the usual medical supply stores and also on the Internet, is prescribed for about 3 months. However, there are also patients who wear them for more than half a year.
In these patients, however, care should be taken to change the splint after about 3 months. The benefit of a splint for hallux rigidus has not yet been definitively proven (in contrast to its use for the similar clinical picture of hallux valgus) and remains controversial. Not all surgeons and orthopedic surgeons inform their patients about this possibility and automatically issue a prescription for a splint. However, if one has the feeling that the operated joint is slightly displaced again, it is advisable to discuss this with the doctor and if a person affected expresses the wish to wear a splint, this is usually complied with.