Management of ankle deformities in multiple hereditary osteochondromata

Nine patients with multiple hereditary osteochondromata underwent ankle surgery for valgus deformity. The indications for operation included pain from trauma of the prominent masses, pain in the ankle joint associated with the deformity, limited ankle motion, and undesirable cosmesis. The procedures included excision of osteochondromata, fibular lengthening, and medial tibial hemiepiphyseal retardation by inserting staples. Excision of osteochondromata as an isolated procedure relieved pain and improved cosmesis but did not alter the tibiofibular length discrepancy or the ankle valgus. Lengthening of the fibula and medial tibial hemiepiphyseal stapling, alone or in combination, corrected the valgus deformity of the ankle. At final follow-up (mean 43 months), no patient had pain or functional impairment.