Metatarsus AdductusSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Metatarsus Adductus
Metatarsus adductus is a foot deformity that occurs in infants. The bones in the front half of the foot bend or turn in toward the side of the big toe.
Metatarsus varus; Forefoot varus; In-toeing
Metatarsus adductus is thought to be caused by the infant's position inside the womb. Risks may include:
- The baby's bottom was pointed down in the womb (breech position).
- The mother had a condition called oligohydramnios, in which she did not produce enough amniotic fluid.
There may also be a family history of the condition.
Metatarsus adductus is a fairly common problem. It is one of the reasons why people develop "in-toeing."
Newborns with metatarsus adductus may also have a problem called developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), which allows the thigh bone to slip out of the hip socket.
The front of the foot is bent or angled in toward the middle of the foot. The back of the foot and the ankles are normal. About one half of children with metatarsus adductus have these changes in both feet.
(Club foot is a different problem. The foot is pointed down and the ankle is turned in.)
Treatment is rarely needed for metatarsus adductus. In most children, the problem corrects itself as they use their feet normally.
In cases where treatment is being considered, the decision will depend on how rigid the foot is when the health care provider tries to straighten it. If the foot is very flexible and easy to straighten or move in the other direction, no treatment may be needed. The child will be checked regularly. If the foot is very rigid, your provider may order other diagnostic tests.
In-toeing does not interfere with the child becoming an athlete later in life. In fact, many sprinters and athletes have in-toeing.
If the problem does not improve or your child's foot is not flexible enough, other treatments will be tried:
- Stretching exercises may be needed. These are done if the foot can be easily moved into a normal position. The family will be taught how to do these exercises at home.
- Your child may need to wear a splint or special shoes, called reverse-last shoes, for most of the day. These shoes hold the foot in the correct position.
Rarely, your child will need to have a cast on the foot and leg. Casts work best if they are put on before your child is 8 months old. The casts will probably be changed every 1 to 2 weeks.
Surgery is rarely needed. Most of the time, your provider will delay surgery until your child is between 4 and 6 years old.
A pediatric orthopedic physician should be involved in treating more severe deformities.
Daniel Wu practices in Sar, China. Mr. Wu is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Metatarsus Adductus. His top areas of expertise are Metatarsus Adductus, Bunions, and Osteotomy.
JH Health Care & Surgery Center – White Marsh
Amiethab Aiyer, M.D., is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in treating patients with foot and ankle conditions, such as fractures, deformities, and ligament and tendon tears. He is skilled in minimally invasive bunion correction, Achilles tendon rupture repair, as well as ankle reconstruction and replacement. Dr. Aiyer is the division chief of foot and ankle surgery in the Johns Hopkins Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He completed his medical training at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. During his fourth year of medical school, Dr. Aiyer completed a research fellowship at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, also in Philadelphia. He then completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. During the residency, Dr. Aiyer received multiple awards, including the Alan Levine Orthopaedic Graduate Medical Education Scholarship from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). He has also been selected to present at the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Resident Research Symposium and as an American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) Emerging Leader. In his final year of residency, he received the Gold Humanism Resident Teacher Award. Dr. Aiyer went on to complete a research and clinical fellowship at the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. As a researcher, he is currently investigating diagnosis, surgical treatments and patient outcomes for bunions, Achilles tendon ruptures, ankle arthritis, ankle trauma and other conditions affecting the foot and ankle. His research encompasses clinical, basic science and biomechanical studies. He has presented his research at numerous conferences held by the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, AAOS and other professional organizations of which he is a member. He is a fellow of the AAOS and AOA, and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Along with special interests in clinical practice and multiple facets of orthopaedic foot and ankle research, he is passionate about teaching residents and medical students; he has been mentoring medical students for several years. Dr. Aiyer has been recognized for his commitment to education with multiple teaching and faculty educator awards, and he is working with other orthopaedic surgeons to develop a nationwide push for medical student mentorship. Using social media platforms, he co-founded the @orthomentor Instagram account to provide students with easy access to mentorship and advising. Dr. Aiyer is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Metatarsus Adductus. His top areas of expertise are Achilles Tendon Rupture, Metatarsus Adductus, Flat Feet, Tendinitis, and Osteotomy.
Foot & Ankle Health Group
. Dr. Rinaldi is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Metatarsus Adductus. Her top areas of expertise are Metatarsus Adductus, Fungal Nail Infection, Tendinitis, and Metatarsalgia.
The outcome is almost always excellent. Almost all children will have a foot that works.
A small number of infants with metatarsus adductus may have developmental dislocation of the hip. The hip condition should be monitored periodically.
Contact your provider if you are concerned about the appearance or flexibility of your infant's feet.
Summary: Foot and leg pain among otherwise healthy children is a common reason for referral to our pediatric orthopaedics outpatient clinic. The pain is often intermittent and transient, but for some the pain is more dominating and has an impact on the child and families. Children grown and have normal anatomical variations such as in-toeing, out-toeing, hypermobility, flatfeet, knock knees etc. Assessing ...
Summary: Prospective, multicenter, unblinded study to evaluate outcomes of the Adductoplasty™ Procedure in combination with the Lapiplasty® Procedure for patients in need of metatarsus adductus and hallux valgus correction. Up to 80 subjects will be treated in this study at up to 13 clinical sites. Patients 14 years of age or older with symptomatic metatarsus adductus and hallux valgus will be eligible to ...
Published Date: August 27, 2024
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Goodbody CM, Winell JJ, Davidson RS. The foot and toes. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 715.
Kelly DM. Congenital anomalies of the lower extremity. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 29.
McClincy MP, Olgun ZD, Dede O. Orthopedics. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 22.