Arthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease
Generally refers to wear-and-tear on a joint. The disorder usually is precipitated by trauma, but can also be caused by other entities such as metabolic abnormalities, infections, tumors, and congenital or acquired deformities. The disorder is progressive. X-rays are extremely useful in determining the severity of disease, however do not always correlate with clinical symptoms. Early treatment revolves around motion control or immobilization, anti-inflammatory medication, ice, rest, elevation, compression, and behavior modification. Surgical intervention includes salvage procedures to "clean-up" the joint, joint replacement, and arthrodesis (fusion) of the joint to stop painful motion. This disorder can affect any joint including the ankle, subtalar joint, midfoot joints, and toe joints. The great-toe joint is commonly afflicted.
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