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Paediatrics
intermediate
X-Type

Curly Toes - Congenital Toe Deformity, Natural History and FDL Tenotomy

Paediatric Foot

A mother brings her 3-year-old daughter for evaluation of bilateral toe deformities noted since birth. Examination reveals the third and fourth toes on both feet are flexed, adducted, and rotated medially, lying under the adjacent toes. The deformities are passively correctable to neutral. There is no pain, no callus formation, and the child walks normally. Family history reveals the father had similar deformities as a child that "got better on their own." Regarding curly toes in children:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Curly toe is a CONGENITAL deformity characterized by FLEXION at IPJ, ADDUCTION, and MEDIAL ROTATION ...

B

NATURAL HISTORY: 25-50% of curly toes SPONTANEOUSLY RESOLVE by age 3-4 years without treatment; reso...

C

Curly toes are always symptomatic and progressive; they never resolve spontaneously; the 1st and 2nd...

D

INDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT: symptomatic deformity causing pain or callus; cosmetic concerns in older ...

E

FDL TENOTOMY: definitive surgical treatment; performed through small plantar incision at base of pro...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option