Brachymetatarsia: One-Stage Correction using a Cadaver Bone Allograft

Abstract

1 , Endolyn Garden, BS (Hons) 2 The Foot and Ankle Online Journal 2 (5): 1 Brachymetatarsia is defined as congenital shortening of the metatarsal caused by premature closure of the epiphysis. The condition most commonly affects the fourth metatarsal of young and adolescent females. Correction of this deformity is either by callus distraction using an external fixator, or by one-stage surgical lengthening procedure using autogenous iliac bone graft. A case of brachymetatarsia is presented that is corrected by one-stage cadaver bone graft sterilized by the Biocleanse ® method. Advantages include complete incorporation of the graft and healing characteristics similar to autogenic bone grafting without the need to harvest graft material.