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A Case of Polymetatarsia Without Polydactyly
1Surgery, Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons, Melbourne, AUS.
Cureus
|September 18, 2020
Summary
Polymetatarsia, an extra metatarsal bone, can cause pain. Surgical removal of these additional metatarsals offers effective pain relief for symptomatic individuals.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Polymetatarsia is a rare congenital anomaly involving extra metatarsal bones.
- It is often associated with polydactyly, but isolated cases occur.
- This condition can lead to functional impairment and pain.
Observation:
- A 34-year-old male presented with bilateral polymetatarsia in the first intermetatarsal spaces without polydactyly.
- Clinical examination revealed dorsal spur formation and pain due to ankylosed extra metatarsals.
- The patient also had hallux valgus deformities and bilateral second brachymetatarsia.
Findings:
- Surgical resection of the additional metatarsals was performed.
- Concomitant correction of hallux valgus and brachymetatarsia was also undertaken.
- Postoperative follow-up at six weeks showed sustained reduction in pain and pressure.
Implications:
- Surgical intervention, specifically the resection of additional metatarsals, can effectively alleviate pain in polymetatarsia.
- This case highlights a rare variant of polymetatarsia and its successful management.
- Further research into the genetic and developmental aspects of isolated polymetatarsia is warranted.
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