Fibular Hemimelia

Abstract

The term fibular hemimelia implies a congenital absence of al I or a part of the fibula.

The appearance of a limb with fibular deficiency can vary from barely detectable to severely deformed. The typical limb is characterized by a valgus foot, shortening of the leg, variable anterior bowing of the tibia with a dimple over the apex, and variable valgus of the knee. The foot is often deformed, missing one to several lateral (post axial) rays. Frequently the femur is

short as well as the tibia, the femoral shortening may be slight to severe (Lovel and Winter, 2003). •

Various classification schemes have • been described for fibular hemimelia as by Coventry et al. (1952); Achterman . and • Kalamchi, (1979); Letts, (1993); Birth, (1998) & . Stanitski • and Stanitski, (2003) the most commonly used • throughout the literature is that of Coventry and Johnson.

The definite line of treatment • has been a debatable issue for a long time; the problem is not merely a diseased bone (pathological condition to which a treatment is proposed); but