CASE REPORT   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2019 December;70(4):224-6

DOI: 10.23736/S0394-3410.19.03948-1

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A rare entire synostotic bifid metatarsal bone in a teenager

Nunzio CATENA ✉, Chiara ARRIGONI, Carlo ORIGO

Pediatric Orthopedics and Traumatology Unit, AON SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy

Congenital synostosis of the forefoot is a rare malformation, especially as isolated form. The authors report on a case of a teenager, suffering from flatfeet and a symptomatic synostosis between the base and the shaft of the 4th and 5th metatarsals. The synostosis was treated by means of a reduction osteotomy between the two necks and a second one on the base of the 5th metatarsal which was medially translated and fixed with a cannulated screw. The osteotomy healed two months after surgery and the patient was pain free at 1-year follow-up. Despite the rarity of the case, a correct diagnosis and surgical indication, based on the presence of a symptomatic deformity, can yield excellent outcomes. The aim of surgery should be to reach pain free weight bearing.

KEY WORDS: Foot; Synostosis; Forefoot, human