New Implant Improves Pain and Function for Big Toe

Patients suffering from painful osteoarthritis (OA) in the big toe joint are now finding relief from a new surgical implant that has been restoring motion and reducing pain. OACM’s foot and ankle specialist Patrick Maloney, MD, was one of the first orthopedic surgeons in Maryland to implant The Cartiva® Synthetic Cartilage Implant (Cartiva SCI) to treat painful OA. Cartiva SCI, a small, soft implant that replaces the damaged cartilage of the big toe joint, was approved by the FDA in July 2016 for patients with mild to severe OA.

Implant Helps Improve Pain, Mobility

The Cartiva SCI implant offers a number of advantages to patients looking for relief from OA including:

  • Relief from the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the great toe joint.
  • Maintaining full range of motion in the big toe.
  • Return to normal activity following the implant and recovery.

Dr. Maloney explains that one of the main advantages of the Cartiva SCI implant is maintaining range of motion of the toe joint following the implantation. “Before this implant, the only truly viable option for treating advanced osteoarthritis of the great toe joint was fusion surgery, which fuses the bones together and limits range of motion and mobility. Patients who receive the Cartiva SCI implant can go on to maintain their current level of activity including walking and even running in some cases.”

About the Cartiva SCI Implant Surgery

Dr. Maloney performs the implant procedure on an out-patient basis. The surgery takes only about 30 minutes from start to finish and entails one small incision on top of the big toe. A small wire is inserted followed by a drill that creates a small hole in the bone for the implant. The soft, saline filled Cartiva SCI implant is then inserted into this section of the bone and serves as a “stopper” to open up the joint. By placing the implant in between the small bones of the toe, it creates a new smooth surface in the joint that minimizes the bone rubbing on bone, which is the main source of the arthritic pain.

Recovery from the procedure typically includes about one month in a boot to immobilize the foot and allow the joint to heal. After about 4 to 8 weeks, patients can begin to resume normal daily activities.

“Before this implant, a patient’s only options for osteoarthritis were to surgically remove bone spurs or to fuse the great toe joint,” explains Dr. Maloney, who adds that toe joint replacement surgery utilizing metal implants is another option, but less often preferred because of excessive bone loss in the toe. “With Cartiva SCI, there is very minimal bone loss and a greater restoration of mobility. And, because we are able to maintain the native bone of the big toe, any future revision procedures will be less traumatic and more successful.”

To Learn more about osteoarthritis and the new Cartiva® Synthetic Cartilage Implant (Cartiva SCI) for OA, contact OACM at (410) 644-1880 or Toll Free: (855) 463-2663, or visit www.mdbonedocs.com.