Non-surgical interventions for big toe osteoarthritis

The use of arch-contouring foot orthoses provided similar effectiveness to sham inserts for improving foot pain, function and quality of life in people with big toe osteoarthritis, with a similar risk of adverse events.

The use of shoe-stiffening inserts provided similar effectiveness to sham inserts for improving foot pain, function and quality of life in people with big toe osteoarthritis. The magnitude of the difference between groups approached statistical significance if shoe-stiffening inserts were used with rehabilitation therapy (0.5 worse to 13.1 better on a 100-point scale). There were no differences in the risk of adverse events.

A single intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid offered no benefit when compared with placebo injection for improving foot pain, function, quality of life or big toe range of motion in people with big toe osteoarthritis, with a similar risk of adverse events.