Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Brachymetatarsia

Brachymetatarsia


Brachymetatarsia is a condition where there is one toe shorter than the others. It usually happens with both feet, but some patients only experience the condition in one of their feet. Whether from genetics or because of traumas experienced, there are a number of causes of brachymetatarsia. It can not only be very uncomfortable and difficult to balance properly, but also embarrassing for the patient. This is why we offer a variety of treatments for our patients suffering from it.


Surgery is the best course of action for treating brachymetatarsia permanently here at S.E.T. Footcare. There are other less invasive treatments, such as applying padding to the shoes and offering custom orthotics, but this is only a temporary fix. For a more permanent option to improve the function and appearance of our patients’ feet, we can lengthen the metatarsal that is causing the shortened toe.


Surgery options include callus distraction or a bone graft. The bone graft is done by creating a metatarsal through bones extracted from other parts of the body. This lets us create a bone graft that will elongate the toe. It is a one-stage procedure with a recovery time of around two months. The other procedure has a longer recovery time of up to four months, and is called a callus distraction. This uses a device to gradually lengthen the bone.


Visit Dr. Jeffrey Klein in Waterford, MI to schedule an appointment for your brachymetatarsia.