Lengthening procedures of small bones of foot and foot stump.

Foot length discrepancy may result from congenital or acquired causes. If the absence of the foot is more proximal than the metatarsal level, push off and foot resilience will be disturbed and rapid walking and spring will be awkward. Those patients have to be fitted with a prosthesis extending above the ankle to the distal leg. The functional impairment and poor cosmetic appearance become social problems especially for adolescents. Twelve cases underwent a lengthening procedure of small bones of the foot in our clinic since 1995 to lengthen the foot or a foot stump. Results were satisfactory.