My daughter

Xinqiao is a wonderful 3-year old child. She is a live wire. She never stops moving and talking 😉

We were diagnosed macrodactyly of the 2nd and 3rd toes only a few days ago by an orthopedic surgeon (Dr. R.). Before that we never thought that the shape of her right foot might create any particular problem (apart from any issues concerning psychological acceptance during adolescence).

As I said before, she is such an active and charming little one that the last thing you would notice in her is her “special foot”, as we call it in our family.

I was not aware that macrodactyly can manifest both as a static and a progressive condition, and I have always considered this as an esthetic problem that we could handle when she would grow older (should she desire to do so).

Anyway, since our primary care pediatrician urged us to consultation, we ended up with this surgeon.

And now we are so frightened. He suggested that a first operation (shortening operation+epiphysiodesis) be performed in the near future (a year or so), followed by some others (debulkin?), if necessary.

My point is: is there a way to avoid surgery at all? If we are so lucky that my daughter has the static form, wouldn’t surgery incentivate further growth of the toes instead of keeping it stable? Our immune system is so complex that I fear that trying to change a presently stable situation would worsen things rather than improving them……

We have asked for a second opinion and we have scheduled a visit on May, 2nd but we are also planning to see an ostheopath, to see if he/she deems surgery necessary in terms of functional growth.

I will keep you updated.