OPTIMIZATION OF TACTICS OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ELDERLY PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM FRIGIDITY OF THE FIRST TOE

OPTIMIZATION OF TACTICS OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ELDERLY PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM FRIGIDITY OF THE FIRST TOE

 Tokarev A.E., Amarantov D.G., Ladeyshchikov B.M., Zarivchatsky M.F., Belokrylov N.M., Denisov A.S., Shchekolova N.B., Pavlova V.N.

Perm State Medical University named after Academician E.A. Wagner, Perm, Russia

Dysfunction of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot develops in 40 % of people leading an active lifestyle [1]. The main cause of this dysfunction is deforming osteoarthrosis. Deforming osteoarthrosis of the foot is a degenerative-dystrophic pathology with a predominant lesion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Modern researchers usually define deforming osteoarthrosis of the I metatarsophalangeal joint as a rigid 1st toe (hallux rigidus) [2]. The rigid toe is one of the three leaders among degenerative-dystrophic pathologies of the extremities; in terms of frequency of occurrence, only arthrosis of the knee and hip joints is ahead of it [1]. Among the clinical manifestations of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, pain, a decrease in the range of motion and a feeling of stiffness in the joint are in the lead. A characteristic feature of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is pain in the foot, which increases with walking. Morphological manifestations are the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joint, followed by the replacement of the cartilage with overgrown bone tissue. The result of such a morphological process is the fusion of the articular surfaces of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which inevitably leads to a pronounced decrease in joint mobility and the formation of rigidity of the first toe [3].
There is a large number of classifications dividing hallux rigidus into the stages of the disease [4]. In this work, we used the Regnauld classification (1983), dividing deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint into three stages (Table 1).

Table 1. Classification of deforming osteoarthritis of the first of metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot (Regnauld, 1983)

Deforming osteoarthritis stage

Clinical and radiological signs

I

Unexpressed pain when walking
The articular surfaces of the first toe and first metatarsal bone are congruent
Presence of small marginal osteophytes

II

Decreased dorsiflexion in metatarsophalangeal joint < 35°
Mild pain appearing when walking

Formation of an unevenly narrowed gap
Formation of cysts of marginal osteophytes and subchondral sclerosis

III

Decreased dorsiflexion in metatarsophalangeal joint < 35°
Severe pain when walking
Disappearance of the joint space
Formation of cysts, large osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis
Dislocation and degenerative changes of the sesamoid complex, the formation of subluxation of metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot


At the moment, there is no general approach to the treatment of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. In the early stages, it is possible to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and intra-articular injections of glucocorticoids. Much attention is paid to such methods of non-drug treatment as physiotherapy exercises, massage, physiotherapy, exercise on a stationary bike, wearing tapes and orthoses, individual selection of orthopedic shoes. Modern authors believe that conservative treatment is symptomatic, since it neutralizes only pain and inflammatory syndromes [2, 4].

To date, joint-saving operations have become the main method for correcting deforming osteoarthrosis in the early stages of the disease. When performing such operations, the surgeon revises the joint and, if detected, removes both the sclerosed joint capsule and cysts and bone growth. At the next stages, modern authors recommend the use of endoprosthetics, arthrodesis and arthroplasty [5, 6, 7].

To date, the discussion on many aspects of surgical treatment of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot has not been completed. The question remains unresolved about which method of surgical treatment is preferable, depending on the stage of the disease. Thus, among modern researchers, many issues of providing assistance to patients with this pathology are still debatable.

Objective
- to improve the results of surgical treatment of elderly patients suffering from deforming osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot by developing optimized tactics of surgical treatment depending on the stage of the disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

172 elderly patients (61-75 years old) with deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint were treated in the period from 1997 to 2020 on the basis of the department of traumatology of Perm Regional Clinical Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: 90 patients of the group I received treatment according to the optimized tactics of surgical treatment developed by us, depending on the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint; 82 patients of the group II received treatment using classical methods of surgical intervention - patients underwent surgery using the Schade-Brandes method and the method from the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics without taking into account the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint.
The age of patients in the group I varied from 61 to 75 years (mean age 69 ± 4.75 years), in the group II - from 61 to 73 years (mean age 68 ± 3.95 years). In the group I, among 90 (100 %) patients, there were 84 (93.3 %) women and 6 (6.7 %) men; in the group II, among 82 (100 %) patients, there were 74 (90.24 %) women and 8 ( 9.72 %) men. Thus, the similarity of both groups confirms the fact that the clinical groups did not have statistically significant differences in the age and sex of the patients (p = 0.792 and p = 0.669, respectively).

In the preoperative period, a standard set of clinical, morphological and X-ray examinations were performed. In the postoperative period, we supervised both groups of patients. Patients were actively invited for examination at the polyclinic of the Perm Regional Clinical Hospital. Control examinations were carried out 1 and 2 years after the operation. In some cases, the follow-up period was up to 7 years. To assess the effectiveness of treatment, the dynamics of clinical manifestations of the disease, data of X-ray research methods were investigated. All patients used the biomechanical method of joint examination without fail. The stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint was determined based on the Regnauld classification (1983).

Before and after surgery, as well as in assessing the long-term results of treatment, biomechanical studies were carried out: the maximum values of the angles of the plantar and dorsal flexion of the metatarsophalangeal joint were revealed. A protractor was used as a tool for measuring the values of the
 mentioned angles. Before the start of the study, the instrument was fixed in the sagittal plane built through the axes of the bones that form the first metatarsophalangeal joint. After that, the maximum possible angles of dorsal and plantar flexion were determined. A plantar flexion range of 25-35 ° and a dorsiflexion range of 35-60 ° were taken as the norm.

The clinical and radiological symptoms of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, as well as the stages of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, according to the Regnauld classification (1983), revealed in 172 patients of both groups are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Clinical and radiological symptoms and stages of  deforming osteoarthritis of the first of metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot according to classification of  Regnauld (1983) (n = 172)

Signs of deforming osteoarthritis

Groups of patients

p

group 1

group 2

Mild pain

36 (40 %)*

36 (43.9 %)

0.795

Moderate pain

38 (42.22 %)*

33 (40.24 %)

0.966

Intense pain

16 (17.78 %)*

13 (15.85 %)

0.961

Joint gap without features

35 (38.39 %)*

34 (41.46 %)

0.867

Articular gap is uneven

39 (43.33 %)*

34 (41.46 %)

0.976

No joint gap

16 (17.78 %)*

14 (17.07 %)

0.896

Osteophytes are minor

34 (37.78 %)*

35 (42.68 %)

0.707

Moderate osteophytes

40 (44.44 %)*

32 (39.02 %)

0.665

Osteophytes pronounced

16 (17.78 %)*

15 (18.29 %)

0.874

There are cysts

54 (60 %)*

48 (58.54 %)

0.987

No cysts

36 (40 %)*

34 (41.46 %)

0.987

Subchondral sclerosis

54 (60 %)*

46 (56.1%)

0.795

No subchondral sclerosis

36 (40 %)*

36 (43.9 %)

0.795

Dorsiflexion unlimited

36 (40 %)*

37 (45.12 %)

0.691

Dorsiflexion 20-35°

38 (42.22 %)*

31 (37.8 %)

0.748

Dorsiflexion < 20°

16 (17.78 %)*

14 (17.07 %)

0.896

1st stage

35 (38.39 %)*

36 (43.9 %)

0.657

2nd stage

39 (43.33 %)*

32 (39.02 %)

0.758

3rd stage

16 (17.78 %)*

14 (17.07 %)

0.896

Total number of victims

90 (100 %)

82 (100 %)

 

Note: * – p > 0.05 compared with group II. Statistical analysis method – Z criterion.

Pain syndrome was present in all patients of both groups, while severe pain syndrome was observed in 16 (17.8 %) patients in the group I and 13 (15.85 %) patients in the group II. An unevenly narrowed joint space was found in 39 (43.3 %) patients in the group I and 34 (41.46 %) in the group II; joint space was absent in 16 (17.8 %) patients in the group I and 14 (17.07 %) ) in the group II.
In a biomechanical study, dorsiflexion limitation was found in 54 (60 %) of the patients in the group I and in 45 patients (54.88 %) in the group II. The limitation of dorsiflexion of 20 ° - 35 ° was determined in 38 (42.2 %) patients of the group I and 31 (37.8 %) patients in the group II, less than 20 ° − in 16 (17.8 %) patients of the group I and 14 (17.07 %) patients of the group II.

The ratio of patients with deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, depending on the stage of the disease in the group I, was as follows: we found the first stage in 35 (38.9 %) patients, the second one - in 39 (43.3 %), the 3rd stage - in 16 (17.8 %). In the group II, the stage 1 was detected in 31 (38.8 %) patients, the stage 2 - in 34 (42.5 %), and the stage 3 - in 15 (18.7 %).

As can be seen from the data presented, the clinical groups were similar in the proportion of all clinical and radiological signs of osteoarthrosis, as well as in the number of patients with different stages of the disease: there were no statistically significant differences between the groups for all these criteria (p > 0.05).

Statistical analysis.
The statistical data were processed using the Excel and Stat Soft Statistica 6.0 programs. Quantitative indicators were assessed by means of arithmetic mean values (M) and standard deviations (σ), qualitative ones - in absolute values with percentages (%). The assessment of the reliability of the results was carried out using the Student's criteria (t) and Z. The critical level of significance was taken equal to 0.05. Differences were assessed as statistically significant at p < 0.05.
This study was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association - Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects (2013), and the Rules for Clinical Practice in the Russian Federation (June 19, 2003). The consent was received from the Ethics Committee of the V.I. Academician E.A. Wagner Perm State Medical University. The informed consent was obtained from all patients included in the study.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Today, surgical interventions aimed at correcting deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint are common, in which subchondral tunnelization of the distal metaepiphysis of the first metatarsal bone is performed. However, as noted in the literature and our own observations, these operations do not completely restore the range of motion in the metatarsophalangeal joint.
To eliminate this drawback, we have created and applied a new method of surgical treatment in the treatment of patients with deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint with hallux valgus (patent for invention No. 2279857 RF dated 5 June 2006). The method consists in the simultaneous surgical correction of the hallux valgus of the first toe, elimination of bone exostosis (cheilectomy), subchondral tunneling of the head of the first metatarsal bone, as well as arthroplasty of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. This method of surgical treatment eliminates the components of the forefoot deformity and the consequences of deforming osteoarthritis.

The developed method of surgical treatment formed the basis for the optimized tactics of surgical treatment that we created, depending on the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, each stage of which had its own modification of the surgical intervention.

After identifying the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, 90 patients of the group I underwent surgical treatment according to the optimized tactics of surgical management developed by us, depending on the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. With regard to patients of the group I, our tactics looked as follows: 35 (38.39 %) patients of the group I with the stage 1 of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint underwent organ-preserving surgery. After bursexostosectomy, the head of the 1st metatarsal bone was modeled (cheilectomy) (Fig. 1). Synovectomy and tunnelization of the head of the first metatarsal bone were performed. Surgical intervention was completed by stopping the bleeding of the operated bone tissue with wax (Fig. 2). An important component of organ-preserving surgery was subchondral tunneling of the head of the first metatarsal bone.

Figure 1. Cutting out U-shaped flap from the joint capsule, cheilectomy

Figure 2. Bone hemostasis by wax

Its implementation gave rise to a number of factors that positively affect the healing process. First, when performing tunneling, the veins and arteries located in the metaphysis of the first metatarsal bone were mixed, which led to a restructuring of the bone blood circulation and to a decrease in the level of pressure inside the bone tissue. Secondly, this intervention destroyed the sympathetic nerve fibers that innervate the bone. This effect on the sympathetic innervation contributed to the disappearance of pain and eliminated vasospasm in the operation area. As a consequence of the described processes, at the site of subchondral tunnelization, an increase in the processes of bone and cartilage tissue regeneration occurred [8].
During the surgical treatment of 39 (43.33 %) patients of the group I with stage 2 of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint for the correction of hallux valgus, we performed an operation according to the Schade-Brandes method, during the production of which we additionally performed subchondral tunneling of the distal head of the 1st metatarsal bones and cheilectomy (Fig. 3). When performing this operation, we combined resection arthroplasty with capsuloplasty in 22 (24.44 %) cases: the resulting defect in the phalanx of the first toe was covered with a flap cut from the articular capsule. The flap was fixed with transosseous sutures with the first toe brought out to the mid-physiological position. Additional fixation of the first toe after the Brandes operation (needles, plaster casts) was not performed. At the end of the operation, it was mandatory to stop bleeding from the operated bone areas with wax.

Figure 3. Subchondral tunneling of the distal head of the first metatarsal bone

When treating 16 (17.78 %) patients of the group I with stage 3 of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, we performed cheilectomy with the obligatory modeling of the distal head of the 1st metatarsal bone. After that, her subchondral tunnelization was performed. The next step was to cut out a flap from the articular capsule, which was used to cover the resected surface of the base of the phalanx of the first toe. The finger was placed in an average physiological position. In 3 (3.33 %) cases, we performed arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (Fig. 4).

Figure 4. Plastic surgery of the inner part of the joint capsule with U-shaped capsular flap with fixation of the flap with transosseous sutures

Patients of the group II received assistance using classical methods of surgical treatment: 82 (100 %) patients underwent surgery using the Schade-Brandes method and the method from the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, without taking into account the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint.
To determine the effectiveness of the optimized tactics of surgical treatment developed by us, depending on the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, we evaluated the long-term results of treatment of patients in both clinical groups. The results were assessed within 1 and 2 years. In some cases, the observation lasted up to 7 years. Long-term results of surgical treatment were assessed in 64 (71.1 %) patients in the group I and in 61 (74.39 %) patients in the group II. There were no statistically significant differences between the number of examined patients in both clinical groups (p = 0.667).

Among 64 (100 %) patients in the group I and 61 (100 %) patients in the group II, in whom long-term results of treatment with stage 1 deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint were evaluated, there were 26 (40.63 %) patients in the group I and 28 (45.9 %) patients of the group II, with stage 2 - 32 (50 %) patients of the group I and 26 (42.62 %) patients of the group II, with stage 3 - 6 (9.38 %) patients of the group I and 7 patients (11.48 %) of the group II. The similarity of the analyzed groups emphasizes the fact that there were no statistically significant differences between groups I and II in the number of patients with stages 1, 2 and 3 of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (p = 0.679, p = 0.517 and p = 0.927, respectively).

Based on the literature data, when evaluating the results, the following categories were distinguished: "good result", which included the absence of recurrence of pain and the absence of joint deformity with a repeated decrease in the volume of movement; "satisfactory result", which was characterized by a decrease in the range of motion by < 30 % of the norm, the presence of pain; "unsatisfactory result", in which there were recurrences of pain syndrome and repeated deformities of the joint.

Long-term results of treatment of patients with deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint are presented in Table 3. In the analysis of long-term results of treatment, a number of regularities were revealed. At the 1st stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, the results of treatment of groups I and II are similar: there are no unsatisfactory results of treatment, good results were obtained in 24 (37.5 %) patients in the group I and in 23 (37.7 %) patients in the group II.

Table 3. Estimation of long term results of treatment of  deforming osteoarthritis of the first of metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot (n = 64 – group I, n = 61 – group II)

A stage of deforming osteoarthritis of the first of metatarsophalangeal joint

Result

Groups of patients

p

Group I
(n = 64)

Group
(n = 61)

Stage 1

Good

24 (37.5 %)

23 (37.7 %)

0.872

Satisfactory

2 (3.13 %)

5 (8.2 %)

0.399

Poor

0 (0 %)

0 (0 %)

0.000

Stage 2

Good

27 (42.19 %)

15 (24.59 %)

0.058

Satisfactory

5 (7.81 %)

10 (16.39 %)

0.230

Poor

0 (0 %)

1 (1.64 %)

0.980

Stage 3

Good

3 (4.69 %)

0 (0 %)

0.259

Satisfactory

3 (4.69 %)

5 (8.2 %)

0.663

Poor

0 (0 %)

2 (3.28 %)

0.455

Patients of all stages

Good

54 (84.38 %)*

38 (62.3 %)

0.009

Satisfactory

10 (15.6 %)*

20 (32.79 %)

0.041

Poor

0 (0 %)

3 (4.92 %)

0.226

Note: * – p - 0.05 compared with group II. Statistical analysis method – Z criterion.

At the 2nd and 3rd stages of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, the prevalence of good results in patients of the group I is clearly observed. At stage 2, good results were obtained in 27 (42.19 %) patients in the group I and in 15 (24.59 %) patients in the group II. At stage 3, good results in the group II were absent, while among 6 patients in the group I, 3 (4.69 %) good results were obtained.
There is also a tendency for the prevalence of the number of satisfactory results among patients of the group II at all stages of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint. In the group II, at stages 1, 2 and 3 of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, 5 (8.2 %), 10 (16.39 %) and 5 (8.2 %) satisfactory results were obtained, respectively. Moreover, in the group I at stages 1, 2 and 3, respectively, 2 (3.13 %), 5 (7.81 %) and 3 (4.69 %) satisfactory results were obtained.

We did not observe unsatisfactory results in the group I, while in the second group there were no unsatisfactory results only at the 1st stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, and at the 2nd and 3rd stages, 1 (1.64 %) and 2 (3.28 %) unsatisfactory results, respectively.

In total, 54 (84.38 %) good treatment results were obtained in the group I patients, which statistically significantly prevailed over 38 (62.3 %) good treatment results obtained in the group II (p = 0.009).

The number of satisfactory treatment results also significantly prevailed among patients in the group II as compared with patients in the group I (20 (32.79 %) and 10 (15.6 %), respectively) (p = 0.041).

A significant predominance of good treatment results, as well as a significantly lower number of satisfactory treatment results, in patients of the group I in comparison with patients in the group II indicates the effectiveness of the use of optimized tactics of surgical treatment, depending on the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

In addition, the absence of unsatisfactory treatment results among patients of the group I, as well as the fact that after surgical treatment of patients of the group I with the third stage of the disease, good treatment results were noted in half of the cases, speaks in favor of the optimized tactics developed by us.

CONCLUSION

The proposed method of surgical treatment of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot is a complex surgical intervention that combines surgical correction of the hallux valgus of the first toe with the removal of bone exostosis (cheilectomy), subchondral tunneling of the head of the first metatarsal bone and arthroplasty of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. This method of surgical treatment eliminates the components of the forefoot deformity and the consequences of deforming osteoarthritis.
The developed optimized tactics of surgical treatment involves the use of various modifications of the proposed method of surgical treatment of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot at different stages of the disease.

The use of the optimized tactics of surgical treatment developed by us, depending on the stage of deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot, made it possible to significantly increase the number of good treatment results by 22.08 % (from 84.38 to 62.3 %), significantly reduce the number of satisfactory treatment results by 17.19 % (from 32.79 to 15.6 %) and to avoid unsatisfactory treatment results, which makes it possible to recommend the proposed tactics in the clinical practice of treating elderly patients with deforming osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot.

Funding information and conflicts of interest

The study was not sponsored.
The authors declare no obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.

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