title: Osteoarthritis of the foot: a review of the current state of knowledge.
abstract: Foot osteoarthritis(OA)is very common disease that mainly affects older people deeply influencing their quality of life.The join most frequently involved in the articular degenerative process is the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Its severe impairment may lead to a specific clinical pattern known as hallux rigidus that often requires surgical treatment.Currently conventional radiograms of feet associated with an accurate clinical examination should be performed in order to diagnose foot OA.However, new imaging modalities as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are emerging as valuable tools to assess foot OA.Therapeutic options for foot OA consist of conservative strategies, including life-style modification and pharmacological treatment, options that are usually adopted in early-stage disease and in invasive surgical procedures reserved to late-stage conditions. At the present time there is a lack of evidence in international literature specifically dealing with foot OA, so further investigation on this topic is required to clarify its pathogenesis, the diagnostic pathway and the best clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialita Mediche, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Roma, Italy. annamaria.iagnocco@uniroma.it
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iagnocco
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gattamelata
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vavala
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceccarelli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cravotto
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valesini
mesh_terms: D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D033023:Foot Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D014463:Ultrasonography