An anatomic total joint replacement is being designed for the treatment of arthritic first metatarsal phalangeal joints. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was implemented to examine the stability of the metatarsal component and its effects on the stress distribution in the bone of the metatarsai head. The finite element model will aid present and future design decisions of the metatarsal component. Combining results of previous studies on the metatarsal joint geometry, material properties, alignment, and loading, three-dimensional finite element models were constructed using the finite element software package ANSYS version 4.4a released by Swanson Analysis Systems, Inc. Several models are involved in this study;​ however, care was taken to construct one general model which could be modified with little eifort to create the required models. The flexible design of this general finite element model facilitates future finite element studies on design modifications to the metatarsal resurfacing prosthesis. The bone's material property was assumed linear-elastic, isotropic;​ though, the nonhomogeneity of cancellous bone was modeled. The bone-implant interface was modeled with three-dimensional frictionless interface elements;​ and, a representative load from the push off phase during gait was assigned to all the models. The finite element study found the implant to be stable in all three dimensions, but also showed that the implant may cause stress shielding of the bone. Finite element results also suggest that a centre peg is not necessary to provide optimal fixation and stress distributions.