Operative resection is a viable treatment of macrodactyly of the foot caused by lipofibromatous hamartoma: a case study with 5 year follow-up

Abstract

Lipofibromatous hamartoma (LFH) is a benign tumour of nervous tissue that most commonly involves the median nerve. Only a few cases of LFH in the foot have been described. In these cases growth of bone and other tissue causing macrodactyly, a condition known as macrodystrophia lipomatosa, is often observed. Conservative treatment of LFH is usually preferred because of the potential loss of neurological function after surgery. Here we present a rare case of a 44-year old patient with LFH causing macrodactyly of the second ray of the left foot whose symptoms did not improve after conservative treatment. We describe the diagnostic process and the operative resection that was performed and show the follow-up results 5 years after surgery. All the symptoms experienced by our patient had disappeared. This case demonstrates that operative treatment of LFH in the foot is a viable option in patients with persistent symptoms following conservative treatment.

Level of evidence: Level V.

Keywords: Forefoot disorders; Lipofibromatous hamartoma; Macrodactyly; Macrodystrophia lipomatosa; Paediatric; Tumours.