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For people with severe arthritis in their toe joints, surgery has been one of the only options to relieve chronic pain, and fusion is a last resort.

Logan Snyder was a standout high school athlete, racking up awards and landing a college softball scholarship, but pain in her toes became unbearable.

"Anytime that I would put weight on my toes, when they would bend back is when it would hurt, which is pretty much constantly," said Snyder.

Doctors performed multiple surgeries to relieve pressure from whats called Hallux Rigidis, a rigid big toe.

"We see it a lot in people who are on the front of their toes, whether its dance, whether its gymnastics, whether its running," said Dr. Victor Prisk, an orthopedic surgeon at Allegheny Health Network.

Foot and ankle surgeon victor prisk knew that fusing the joint would eliminate the pain, but would also limit motion. Instead he recommended a newly-approved flexible toe joint implant called cartiva.

"Its made up of a material called polyvinyl alcohol. Its very similar to the material that would be used to make contact lenses," said Dr. Prisk.

Doctors open up the top of the toe exposing the head of the joint, and then they insert the implant.

"It almost acts like a bumper in your joint. Just like your cartilage would," said Dr. Prisk.

Logan felt the difference as soon as she started moving her big toe.

The change is that I can feel how far back it can get. Its crazy compared to other surgeries," she said.

Last year pain forced Logan to quit softball, but now shes working to get back in shape without pain.

"Thats what Im aiming for, and I really hope to get there," said Logan.

The FDA approved Cartiva last July. Doctor Prisk says its recommended for patients who do not have gout and dont have severe toe deformities.

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New procedure helps people dealing with severe arthritis - WNDU-TV

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