n. a surgical procedure involving the removal of *osteophytes from around a degenerate joint to regain further range of motion. It is commonly performed in degenerative arthritis of the big toe (see hallux rigidus).
painful stiffness and enlargement of the metatarsophalangeal joint, at the base of the big toe, resulting from osteoarthritis. Unlike *hallux valgus, men are more commonly affected than women. Conservative treatment is often successful, but in some cases surgery (e.g. *cheilectomy, *arthrodesis, or *arthroplasty) is required.... hallux rigidus
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