Toe Lengthening

Toe Lengthening Surgery

This surgery is mainly for conditions called brachymetatarsia and brachydactyly which makes a toe look abnormally short

Brachymetatarsia is due to a short metatarsal (long bone to the toe) and not a short toe (although the toe can also be short, known as brachydactyly). In our experience, although it can affect any metatarsal, it is almost always the 4th toe and 4th metatarsal.

Brachydactyly is a short toe, we see this often in multiple operations which leaves a toe short, but it can occur naturally. We can use an implant or bone to lengthen the toe.

What does the surgery involve?

For brachymetatarsia there are two techniques, lengthening by bone graft or a lengthening osteotomy. The graft is used when the metatarsal requires more lengthening. The bone graft is taken from the large heel bone (calcaneus) and is fixed in place with a titanium bone plate.