[Preservation of the foot in a five-year-old child with bilateral congenital deficiency of the tibia].

Abstract

Congenital tibial deficiency is a rare anomaly causing shortening and varus deformity of the lower extremity. Recent limb lengthening and foot repositioning techniques enable functional results with preservation of the foot. We present a five-year-old boy with bilateral congenital tibial deficiency of type 2 according to the Jones classification, who was treated with tibia-fibular fusion without Syme amputation. His ambulation depended on crawling. Radiographic examination showed a normally developed fibula with thickening in the distal portion, and only proximal tibia with absence of the distal part. He also had bilateral stiff equinovarus deformity. In a series of operations, he underwent bilateral tibia-fibular fusion and fibular osteotomy, subtalar arthrodesis and metatarsal osteotomy in the right foot, and subtalar arthrodesis in the left foot. At the end of a six-year treatment and follow-up, walking was achieved despite some degree of limping.