Short Term Follow-up of Patient Implanted With the Metatarso-Phalangeal Prosthesis METIS®

The great toe is vital for normal, pain free ambulation. Decreased function associated with osteoarthritis of the first matatarsal phalangeal joint (MTP I) often called Hallux Rigidis or Hallux Limitus leading to a painful great toe. Patients experience pain during ambulation especially during the push-off phase of gait. When surgery is indicated four techniques are used for hallux rigidis; cheilectomie, resection arthroplasty, arthrodesis and implant surgery (1). Endoprostetic implants are relatively new. Silicone Implants like the arthroplasty developed by Swanson (2) resulted in foreign body reactions and periarticular bone loss. Subsequent implants, in particular the metallic hemi arthroplasty with or without polyethylene articulations, have been more successful (3). Still, implants are prone to wear of the material and show higher rates of loosening and infection compared to other techniques (4;5). In the last decades several new implants are described using two non cemented pressfit components, of titanium alloy or ceramic (6-9). Between 2001 and 2004 the investigators developed a new concept with instrumentation for exact alignment to prevent for wear with loosening of the implant on the long term. The implant has bone-conserving characteristics to enable arthrodesis as a salvage procedure. It is a completely modular two-component press fit titanium alloy implant with polyethylene insert that can be used as either for hemi-, total- or revision arthroplasty.

The purpose of this study is to have an overview of clinical status of the patient implanted with the METIS® prosthesis at short term (2 years of follow-up). The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Metatarso-Phalangeal prosthesis METIS® at short term follow up.