Treatment of Cleft Foot Deformity using Fish Mouth Incision and Suture-Button in Paediatric Foot

Cleft foot is a congenital anomaly characterized by absence of the metatarsal bones and phalanges. It is commonly seen in children with Ectrodactyly-ectrodermal dysplasia and clefting syndrome (EEC) ranging from a median cleft up to the mid metatarsals to a deep cleft up to the tarsal bones. Surgical treatment in the form of cleft closure, excision of the rudimentary metatarsal bone and cross K-wire fixation of metatarsal bones have been tried for the management of such cases. Here, we report a case of one year old child with Type III cleft foot having four metatarsals, who was treated with suture-endobutton system using three transverse tunnels in the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones in order to bring them closer. We were able to achieve a satisfactory outcome with a normal fitting shoe wear. Keywords: Cleft foot; suture-button; fish mouth incision.

Surgical treatment of cleft foot in an adult patient

Cleft foot is a rare congenital malformation characterized by a central conical defect extending from the periphery of the foot towards the tarsus, affecting one or more central rays. Surgical intervention should be attempted at a very early age to prevent further pathological adaptations. The authors present the case of an adult woman admitted with painful callosities on the feet and difficulty selecting shoes. She was diagnosed with cleft foot and submitted to surgical treatment. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was very satisfied with the results of the surgery. This is only the second reported case of surgical management of cleft foot in an adult patient, and the first to describe the use of internal fixation. Level of Evidence V; Therapeutic Studies; Expert Opinion.