Long-term postoperative outcomes of post-axial polydactyly of the foot with an emphasis on collateral ligament reconstruction.

Abstract

Several studies have reported surgical techniques and favorable postoperative outcomes of post-axial polydactyly of the foot; however, few studies have investigated the long-term postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results of our surgical treatment, which emphasized the alignment between the distal and proximal phalanges, and the ligamentous stability. This is a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent surgery for post-axial polydactyly and were followed up until epiphyseal closure of the foot. The study included 13 feet from 12 patients with a mean age at initial surgery of 22 months and postoperative follow-up of 161 months. The surgical method emphasized phalangeal alignment during resection of excess bones and collateral ligament reconstruction to obtain joint stability. Postoperative outcomes included functional problems, varus or valgus deformities, thickening of the reconstructed toe, postoperative complications, additional surgery, esthetic appearance evaluated using the scoring system, and subjective evaluation by patients and the parents. At the latest evaluation after epiphyseal closure of the foot, there were no cases with functional problem or valgus deformities based on morphologic findings. The esthetic appearance of the reconstructed toes was favorable in all but 1 case. Subjective evaluation was more than "satisfied" in 12 toes. In one case, additional surgery to excise scar and excessive soft tissue was performed due to pain. Visible thickening was found in 5 toes, although subjective evaluation by patients and their parents was more than "satisfied." We have demonstrated the long-term postoperative outcomes in post-axial polydactyly of the foot with an emphasis on the phalangeal alignment and ligamentous stability until epiphyseal closure as a sign of skeletal maturity. We obtained favorable long-term postoperative outcomes of the reconstructed toes. Therapeutic, IV.