The bifid great toe: a surgical approach.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Foot and ankle surgery

Background:

• Bifid great toe, a congenital foot deformity, requires early surgical intervention for functional and aesthetic reasons.
• Surgical approaches for this condition are less documented than for similar upper extremity anomalies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term outcomes of a modified Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure for surgical correction of bifid great toes.
• To identify potential complications and recommend surgical modifications.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of five pediatric cases undergoing surgical correction of bifid great toes.
• Utilized a modified Bilhaut-Cloquet technique with a 4-year follow-up period.

Main Results:

• Surgical correction achieved satisfactory outcomes regarding shoe wear and cosmesis.
• Postoperative nail bed deformities were observed in all cases, linked to the nail splitting incision.

Conclusions:

• While surgical correction of bifid great toes is effective, the standard Bilhaut-Cloquet nail splitting incision should be omitted.
• Modifications to the surgical technique are necessary to prevent nail bed complications and improve patient outcomes.