Happy to hear you are healing well!
i had my cartiva implant failed and looking for revision/ other options
what kind of procedure you had? I’m in NYC
Could you clarify what procedures did you have, cause looks like I’m facing fusion after failed Cartiva implant and trying to avoid fusion
Hello, how are doing after surgery? thinking of doing the same one
Thank you
I had joint replaced in both feet now. Right foot... spurs were curled over joint. Had them removed, joint rwplaced, and bone shortened. A month out... still have some pain. Doing ROM several times a day. Semi-pleased so far.
Left foot... spurs rwmoved, joint rwplaced. 2.5 weeks out. Pretty pleased so far.
I know it will take time for pain. I let them get so damaged after years of dealing with it. Let it go way too long. So I remain patient. Have 4 weeks til I go back to work as clinical nurse, on my feet 12+ hours a day. I am very hopeful.
Good luck!!!
Thank you , Lisa
Sending my good thoughts and healing energy to you !
Was it arthrosurfice you used, what surgeon? What city?
It was Dr. Nicholas Adams in Raleigh NC. No, not arthroscopic. I don't believe that's an option with this.
Thank you!
I am 14 months post op from a Cartiva implant. My surgeon confirms that implant receded and I am back to bone on bone. I now need to have a revision surgery. One surgeon wants to fuse the joint and another suggests for me either silicone Sgarlato Gait Implant or metal Arthrosurface Toe Motion implant. I dis not want fusion before nor do I want it now. Seems like joint replacement is next. Has anyone had Cartiva revision surgery and if so what implant did you choose as replacement, and what has been your experience?
Did you get the roto glide implant? If so can you share your experience? I have a failed Cartiva implant and leaning toward joint replacement rather than fusion.
Yours seems to be the latest post so here goes: I had a right big toe joint replacement done with a titanium hemi implant after years of pain, arthritis, broken toe 2 years ago and bad bone spurs on top. (I am 71 yrs. old). My podiatrist said it was bone on bone (no kidding!), and said the toe was basically fused, so the implant would be the best option. I wore a surgical boot & had weekly checkups (including the day after surgery).
Yesterday the boot came off (wearing the 3 lb. boot was getting painful in itself), stitches came out and I was told to walk “normally” on the foot (haven’t been able to do that in years), exercise it by bending, icing it and take Celebrex 1x a day for inflammation. I have to change a gauze dressing over the incision area and stretchy gauze over that. Wearing a sneaker-type shoe, but was told any shoe would be OK (of course no high heels - I never owned a pair). I didn’t overdue it yesterday but today I woke with some pain in the toe. I was told to expect that. It’s not too bad and I am hopeful everything will be much better than before the surgery, as after 35 or so years I’d like to be able to walk without having the pain travel to my right knee and hip due to gait changes from the arthritis in the toe. Today I will continue icing it, etc. PS - I saw a video on Youtube of the surgery - if you can stomach it, watch it. I have no itching or other reaction so far from the implant.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I am 67, my arthritis came as a result of an injury about 8 years ago. Sounds like you are 2-3 weeks post op? I have watched the videos. Just wondering, did you get a single hemi cap on the metatarsal, or was it a total joint replacement ie cap on metatarsal and phalangeal bones? My doc wants to do total joint replacement. I am thinking about doing it in May. Would love to hear how you are progressing.
yes about 2-1/2 weeks now since surgery i was walking with a knee high surgical boot right afterwards but limited walking ( home only & no driving - it was the big toe on the right foot). NO showering either ( glad it wasn’t summertime)
Stitches came out 2 days ago & that was a bit painful , I have to keep a gauze pad over r the incision area with a stick-to-itself bandage & change it daily No bath but I can shower.
It was a removal of bone spurs with the titanium implant on one bone , the largest bone closest to the end of the foot .There are more than one youtune videos of the procedure - the one where they begin showing toe different sizes if implants & the surgical tools is the best in my opinion.
Yesterday & today i have some discomfort in the tie area (too) but mire do in my right calf, probably because i am walking more than with the boot & those muscles get sore easily . It isn’t as bad today.
I did break that toe 2+ years ago & also broke off a bone spur. But the osteoarthritis has been there for 35 years or more ( I am 72 this year); I think it’s genetic as my father had similar problems.
The surgery was done by a podiatrist who said 2 years ago I would know when I was ready for surgical intervention; a custom-made orthotic dud not help (I had one about 15 years ago from a different DPM & one from my current DPM when i broke the toe).
I don’t know anyone who had this surgery/implant, only people who had bunion removal surgery . I have one on my left big toe which isn’t a problem & my DPM says don’t do surgery if it isn’t bothering you.
I am going to post more here as my toe heals in case anyone else needs to see how it goes. Good luck .
Sorry so late with reply. It is now 8 weeks since I had the titanium hemi implant done, a single one on the metatarsal of the big toe. So far - so good 
. After the stitches came out, I still had surgi strips on & had to use gauze with that stretchy bandage. that was for another, maybe 3-4 weeks. Then was told I didn’t have to use either (but the surgi strips were supposed to fall off by themselves). Everything was fine until the first night without gauze or bandage woke to find one part of the incision (I had 8 stitches) bleeding. Called podiatrist, went right in to his office & he cleaned the incision, replaced surgi strips & continued with the gauze & bandage for about 1 more week. Surgi strips fell off one by one, no problem. As far as pain, I do have some pain, not all in the toe. Have some pain in the top of my foot but that may be due to weak calves from not walking properly for years, etc. Had developed a callus on the bottom of the big toe, but that took care of itself after showering; the callus never was too developed. Still having some pain but nothing compared to the pain from the OA, bone spurs (huge) and lack of cartilege in the joint. I am sticking to flat bottom shoes (good shoes, not junk), I never wore heels higher than 1-2" and never spike heels so that’s not a problem. Right now I am wishing I had this surgery done years ago. Not sorry I had it done and would do it again if I had to. Good luck!
. Hopefully attached photos of pre-op and 8 weeks post op toe
top photo showing large bone spur; note 2nd photo post op 8 weeks - still some swelling and scar is barely visible.
I had the Cartiva implant removed last Friday (5/24/19) and had the (2) part Arthrosurface implant installed. The only significant pain I had was when waking up in recovery. Once that was managed thru the IV I went home and really did not have any problems with pain after that. Swelling has been minimal and I could wiggle the toe right away without pain. I am wearing a boot, and can walk pretty much normally in it. I can also walk flatfooted around the house on the bandaged foot with no pain, though I am trying to be good and wear the boot as I was told. I had my 6 day post op Dr visit last Thursday . He removed the bandage and the wound site looked great. Also, to my surprise there were no stitches this time. The incision was glued shut. The surgeon says that he likes to do it that way because less scar tissue forms then. My ROM was more than he though it would be in that short time, and I could wiggle up and down the toe freely about 15 degrees each way. He wrapped it back up with instructions to continue wearing the boot and to return in 2 weeks. He also said I should move the toe up and down by hand throughout the day to keep it loosened but don’t overdo. If all goes well I will be starting PT in two weeks as well. That’s about it for now. I attached a photo from the 6 day checkup. If you see lines on either side of the incision they are not stitches. They are felt tip marker lines that the Dr. drew for reference.
i am the original poster. I am a clinical nurse, on my feet 12+ hours a day. I am about 13 months postop now. and I must say, I am doing great. went hiking last week for 3 solid days in the mountains. my feet (most especially the left, which was worse to begin with) feel achy afterward, but it is relieved with 400mg of advil, or extra strength tylenol. I wear any type of shoe, to include flat flip flops, and still feel the achiness. I assume I just will deal with arthritis in my feet forever, unfortunately. I let the joints get so bad before surgery that I have probably done damage to all of the joints.
All of that being said… I am extremely happy with where I am today. i can even wear a low wedge heel with no pain!!! I think my surgeries went smoothly, even considering he had to shorten one bone. I did deal with lack of motion for what I considered a long time. But 13-14 months postop, I am really happy I did it.
I really hope everyone is able to find relief of pain, and something that works for you!!! I posted my surgeon’s name previously, but here it is again if interested:
Dr. Nicholas Adams
Carolina Foot and Ankle
Raleigh, NC
Glad to hear you are doing well! I would be interested to hear what implant was used in your 1st mpj? I don’t recall seeing the actual name in your post. Thanks…
I only had one surgery per foot. to be honest with you, I dont know what kind of implants i got. they are titanium, and that’s all I really know. 
Hi Ron, well, that looks good to me but I’m no doctor. Did you have an MD or a podiatrist do it? I had a podiatrist (board-certified). I am still having some pain but not just from the surgery, I think my feet are just shot due to age 
Not much swelling left either; I see the podiatrist next week for my 12 week checkup. He has said nothing about PT; I don’t think I need it. I was also told to move the toe up and down, and put it against a wall or solid surface and bend it; I admit I mostly did the former and not the latter. But I can bend it, I even ran just a bit with my dog (not very far, not because of the toe but I was out of breath), I walked 2 miles yesterday, slowly with the dog, and hurt all over: stinks to get old. I think now that the toe is so much improved and moveable, I can start exercising like I should. Good luck with the implant. Any reason why you had the 2 part instead of just one?
Hi Cecelia,
My previous failed surgery was with an orthopedic surgeon. I had a podiatrist this time. He’s done a lot of these. He told me to take off the boot throughout the day and move the toe up and down by hand. Swelling is not as bad this time around. In about 9 days I start working into a regular shoe and start PT. I think thats when i’ll get a better idea how this worked. It feels pretty good already though all things considered. He put in the two part implant because the ends of both of the bones were deteriorated by the arthritis. I’m glad really because theres no pain at the joint interface, since its artificial. All the best to you. Ill probably post again in a few weeks after PT is underway.