Brachymetatarsia: Congenitally short third and fourth metatarsals treated by distraction lengthening - A case report and literature summary

Brachymetatarsia is an uncommon condition, and when present, it is usually asymptomatic. A case report demonstrating the use of distraction lengthening for symptomatic multiple congenital short metatarsals is presented. A 15-year-old female with congenital short third and fourth metatarsals was treated for painful transfer lesions under the second and fifth metatarsal heads and a secondary hallux valgus deformity. Surgical correction with a chevron osteotomy, soft tissue reconstruction of the second toe, and distraction lengthening of the third and fourth metatarsals was performed. Three years after treatment, the patient has an excellent clinical correction, with no evidence of recurrent transfer lesions. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the use of distraction lengthening without supplemental bone graft for multiple short metatarsals in a single extremity.