Brachymetatarsia, or short toe syndrome, is a podiatric deformity characterized by having one or more toes significantly shorter than the others. The condition occurs when the bones in some toes stop growing prematurely while the rest continue developing normally. Since short toes can’t bear weight, your other toes are forced to pick up the slack and hold more than their fair share. This can be uncomfortable or painful, especially when wearing shoes, walking, or standing for long periods.
GENIUS® Metatarsal Lengthening
Advanced Minimally Invasive Toe Lengthening Surgery
Do you have a short toe causing pain, discomfort, or embarrassment that forces you to curb your activities and makes it difficult to get through the day?
At Khosroabadi Institute, internationally renowned foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Alireza Khosroabadi, DPM, performs advanced brachymetatarsia correction procedures to relieve pain and improve foot appearance, patient confidence, and quality of life. Here’s what you should know about short toe syndrome and Khosroabadi Institute’s surgical correction options, including Dr. K’s trademarked minimally invasive toe lengthening surgery.
Brachymetatarsia Basics: Short Toe Causes and Risk Factors
Brachymetatarsia is a deformity of one or more metatarsals, the five long bones in the forefoot that connect to the base of the toes, where the bone stops growing too soon (usually around age 7 or 8), resulting in both aesthetic and functional impairments.
Short toe syndrome typically affects the fourth toe. However, it can happen to multiple toes on one foot or both feet. Primarily a genetic disorder, short toe can also be caused by an injury or infection.
Surgical Options for Short Toe Correction
Khosroabadi Institute offers life-changing surgical options for short toe correction. These procedures use your bone to lengthen affected toes, improving foot appearance and function. Dr. K’s toe lengthening surgeries provide permanent results compared to methods that insert silicone implants in short toe joints to achieve temporary cosmetic lengthening. One surgery we offer involves cutting the toe bone in half and placing a bone graft between the two halves. After a few weeks, the graft heals and becomes part of the original toe bone.
Advanced Minimally Invasive Toe Lengthening Surgery Developed and Perfected by Dr. K
Dr. K’s exclusive toe lengthening technique helps patients achieve optimal results and get back on their feet as quickly and safely as possible. In your pre-surgical consultation, Dr. K will examine your feet and recommend the procedure he thinks is best for your condition. He’ll also discuss potential complications associated with surgeries and explain how he will treat any issues that may arise.
During the procedure, Dr. K surgically places a small external device on the bone of the affected toe. The device features a screw, which patients turn (typically daily) to slowly – and painlessly – lengthen the short toe bone. Although surgical times can vary by patient, installing the external fixation device usually takes one to three hours.
Navigating the Road to Recovery
Dr. K's advanced procedure results in minimal visible scarring one year after surgery and has a low risk of complications. However, patients may develop a superficial infection around the fixation device’s pins. If the area appears red and tender, Dr. K can prescribe an antibiotic to eliminate the infection.
Five to seven days after surgery, you’ll have a post-op appointment with Dr. K and receive instructions for adjusting the external fixation device. He typically recommends turning the screw to lengthen the bone .5mm per day. (If your toe were 5 centimeters short, the lengthening process would take approximately 40 days.)
You’ll return to Khosroabadi Institute every two weeks so Dr. K can take X-rays, chart your progress, and change the external fixation turn rate as needed. He may advise speeding up the turn rate if the new bone is developing quickly or recommend reducing the turn rate if the new bone needs more time to grow.
Our out-of-state patients can have a local doctor take X-rays and send them to Dr. K for review every two weeks.
How long it takes to generate new bone varies by patient, but we typically remove external fixation devices in eight to 16 weeks. You’ll continue following up with Dr. K until you recover fully. He will let you know when it’s safe to wear high heels, play your favorite sports, or participate in other physical activities that could strain the surgical site.
Surgical Expertise, Compassionate Care, and a Luxurious Facility Allow for Exceptional Patient Experiences
Brachymetatarsia surgeries are complex procedures that require an extraordinarily skilled podiatric surgeon. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a short toe surgery expert, you’ve come to the right place. Dr. K is the world authority on short toe syndrome and toe lengthening surgeries. He’s performed hundreds of these procedures, including cases involving up to three short toes, helping patients in the U.S. and worldwide improve their quality of life and restore the health and appearance of their feet.
Never afraid to push the envelope in the best interest of his patients, Dr. K has developed and perfected multiple new podiatric surgical methods, techniques, and devices, some of which have appeared on TV on programs like the nationally syndicated “The Doctors.”
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Are You Interested in Learning More About Surgical Options for Correcting Short Toe?
If you have brachymetatarsia, you might be a candidate for Dr. K's minimally-invasive surgery to lengthen the bone and achieve normal-looking feet. Make an appointment in our Woodland Hills office or schedule a virtual consultation from outside California to find out if we can help you. Call 877-FOOT-911 today to learn about your options.
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