Cartiva
Cartiva can help you with arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (also known as the joint of the big toe). Unlike other joint fusion procedures implemented before, Cartiva will help you to relieve pain and rehabilitate the range of motion in your affected joint. If you suffer from joint pain in the big toe, this can affect many of your day-to-day activities including walking, running, grocery shopping, and more. Because your big toe plays an integral role in how you get around, it is important to not only treat this pain but to treat it with the latest breakthroughs in toe joint technology. At Foot and Ankle Surgeons of New York, a podiatrist in NYC, we have helped many New Yorkers rehabilitate from toe joint arthritis using Cartiva.
So what exactly is Cartiva and how does it work?
Cartiva is a surgical procedure that uses artificial cartilage as a toe implant. The implant provides cushioning between your bones to relieve stress and pain. It is placed on the joint surface, directly adjacent to the intact cartilage. Other podiatric procedures administered to treat this form of arthritis will use screws and plates: These procedures may eliminate pain but they usually also prevent movement of the joint. A podiatrist in NYC, like one of ours at Foot and Ankle Surgeons of New York may recommend Cartiva surgery so that you may reduce pain with no limitations.
What is the implant made of?
The implant is made from biomedical material made to mimic the properties that human cartilage is made of. It is water resistant and designed to handle daily compression in order to ensure longevity.
How long does the procedure take and what is the recovery time?
The surgery usually takes less than an hour to complete. Cartiva allows for an alternative treatment that results in shorter recovery time to make sure that you can get back to your day to day activities. After Cartiva, most patients will be weight-bearing within the same-day as opposed to fusion surgeries which may take up to 6 weeks.
A podiatrist in NYC, like one of ours at Foot and Ankle Surgeons of New York, will make sure that you are comfortable and receive the best possible care. For more information about Cartiva and to make an appointment, contact us today!
