title: Congenital deficiency of the fibula.
abstract: Ninety-seven limbs, in eighty-one patients, with a diagnosis of congenital deficiency of the fibula have been reviewed. A classification was devised to distinguish the minimal hypoplasia of the fibula (Type I) from the well-known complete absence (Type II). Congenital anomalies of the femur were present in 76 per cent of patients with Type I deficiency and in 59 per cent with Type II. The shortening of the limb was by 13 per cent in Type I and by 19 per cent in Type II, and the percentage shortening was fairly constant during growth. A detailed description of the spectrum of other congenital anomalies was found to be characteristic: for example, the ball and socket formation of the ankle, tarsal coalition and anomalies of the foot. The treatment aimed simply to equalise leg length in Type I deficiency, while amputation of the foot and the fitting of a prosthesis were necessary in Type II to obtain satisfactory function.
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000842:Ankle / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001852:Bone Lengthening; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000002:abnormalities; D005360:Fibula / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005532:Foot Deformities, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011859:Radiography