Forefoot adduction in children : management and treatment

Abstract EN

Forefoot adduction is a common condition between metatarsus adductus, Z-shaped foot and residual clubfoot.

This deformity is located in a pure transverse plane at Lisfranc’s joint.

Isolated metatarsus adductus is corrected spontaneously for the majority of newborns.

In rare uncorrected cases, it could result in Z-shaped foot with a functional hindfoot valgus to equilibrate the resistant metatarsus adductus.

As well, in residual clubfoot, recurrent metatarsus adductus varus is observed, usually in children over three years.

In flexible metatarsus adductus the treatment is conservative.

The surgery is proposed in toddlers and after failure of conservative treatment.

Procedures carried out on metatarsals gave good results on short term, but showed a high rate of recurrence and growth disturbance.

Osteotomies proximal to the Lisfranc’s joint: calcaneo-cuboid fusion, anterior resection of calcaneus, and opening wedge osteotomy of medial cuneiform, gave permanent correction but they act only on one of the sides of deformity.

Therefore, the theory of elongated lateral column associated with a shortened medial column is crucial in dealing with this deformity: combining opening wedge osteotomy of cuneiform with closing wedge osteotomy of cuboid described by Jawish et al.

in children over 4 years allows – in all causes of metatarsus adductus stiffness – a lateral shifting of forefoot.

Concerning the associated heel’s valgus, it is corrected in Z-shaped foot after the double osteotomy cuneiform/cuboid.

However, in complicated treated clubfoot a particular treatment for the posterior tarsal is necessary