Distraction Osteogenesis In The Treatment Of Brachymetatarsia

Objective To evaluate the effects of the the distraction osteogenesis in thetreatment of brachymetatarsia．Methods From June of2008to December of2012,43patients withbrachymetatarsia,all female,has underwent distraction osteogenesis withexternal fixator,with an average age of26.3years old.There were61shorttoes on total.The pathology sites were gradually distracted from the seventhday postoperatively0.25mm/d,till metatarsal head connection recoverparabolic shape.Results58cases all has appeaed bony union,another3cases healed afterbone graf.The fixator wearing time lasted6-12months,with an average of8months.The average lengthening was17.8mm(range,7mm-33mm).TheAmerican Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) midfoot score improved from(53.1±11.2) points preoperatively to (87.1±12) points at last follow-up(p<0.05).Conclusion Congenital malformations toe metatarsal short appearance is poor,so that patients often bear serious psychological burden which will affectmetatarsal shortening of the affected foot and overall biological lines of force,prone to metatarsal pain, short upturned toes and claw toes also hinder shoesand so on.Distraction osteogenesis is an effective and reliable surgical treatment forbrachymetatarsia.