Brachymetatarsia of the First Metatarsal Treated by Surgical Lengthening

Abstract

Brachymetatarsia of the 1st metatarsal is uncommon. It may occur as a congenital condition (Figure 11.29), as a complication of previous surgery, such as osteotomy followed by nonunion (Figure 11.30), or as a result of in-jury to the growth plate (physis) of the 1st metatarsal (Figure 11.31). Congenital shortening, when present, is usually in association with other congenital abnormalities, such as Polydactyly and syndactyly. Injury of the physis resulting in premature growth arrest may occur in many situations, such as fracture, infection, tumor, irradiation, and thermal injury, or may result from a surgical procedure, such as subperiosteal dissection in the vicinity of the physis, pin placement across the physis, or osteotomy across the physis.^2,4,7