Complications of First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis

First metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthrodesis has long been established as an effective surgical procedure for treatment of many different pathologies. These commonly include severe hallux valgus, chronic joint instability, neuromuscular disease, avascular necrosis, and arthritic conditions such as hallux rigidus, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, infective arthritis, gouty arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis [1–25]. First MTPJ arthrodesis has also been indicated for failed procedures of the first ray including previous hallux valgus osteotomies, hallux varus deformity, and salvage of replacement and resectional arthroplasties [20, 26–38]. As with any surgical procedure, complications of first MTPJ arthrodesis may arise postoperatively, which may include infection, wound dehiscence, osteomyelitis, ischemic limb, nerve entrapment hematoma, seroma, failed hardware, delayed union, nonunion, malunion, and hallux interphalangeal joint (HIPJ) arthritis [4, 5, 13, 14, 19, 39–44]. Amputation or loss of limb may be a catastrophic sequelae as a result of one of the aforementioned complications.