Osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is termed hallux rigidus. Clinical symptoms are expressed by a painful limitation of range of motion, finally leading to an eponymous total stiffness of the joint. Conservative treatment includes drug therapy, physical therapy and orthotic devices like insoles and footwear modification. After making use of the whole range of conservative treatment options, several surgical techniques are available, which should be considered depending on stage, patient's activity level and possible comorbid diseases. Open and arthroscopic techniques addressing the cartilage and cheilectomy can be chosen in early stages of hallux rigidus. Osteoarthritis at a higher stage requires further reaching techniques, e.g. Bonney-Kessel procedure or Watermann-Green procedure. When the complete clinical picture of hallux rigidus is present, arthrodesis is the gold standard. Nevertheless, alternative surgical treatments like arthroplasty and resection arthroplasty are being discussed.