Spring ligament laxity as the pathogenesis of Hallux rigidus
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Spring ligament laxity as the pathogenesis of Hallux rigidus
IRAS ID
306437
Contact name
Chandra Pasapula
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS FT
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 1 days
Research summary
Hallux rigidus is a debilitating arthritic foot condition and the second most common. Its aetiology is controversial and risk factors are still to be identified. Hallux rigidus can be managed invasively and non-invasively (non-surgically). Early recognition of the risk factors implicated with the disease will allow prompt less invasive intervention. Further, hallux rigidus is associated with causality with a plethora of other degenerative foot conditions. Thus its management might have side benefits. Spring ligament laxity has been associated with first-ray instability and independently first ray hypermobility has been implicated with hallux rigidus. However, the lack of congruency across studies has been highlighted in the literature correlating both aforementioned pathologies to hallux rigidus. We aim to use two objective measures to establish spring ligament insufficiency (lateral heel push test) and one objective measure to establish first ray instability (custom-made ankle-foot orthotic (AFO) with digital scale) to evaluate a possible association between spring ligament laxity and hallux rigidus. Eligible patients will include adult patients diagnosed with spring ligament insufficiency or hallux rigidus with no previous trauma or surgery or other collagen-related or inflammatory arthropathies. Patients will be seen in person in the clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn by the consultant surgeon and chief investigator and measurements will be taken. The study is estimated to add 5-15 additional minutes to the patient's usual consultation, with all other measures of care as per the standard practice.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0282
Date of REC Opinion
23 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion