Bunionette Deformity Management

Clinical Significance

In diabetic patients with neuropathy and foot deformities, special attention must be paid to offloading areas overlying bony deformities to prevent ulceration 1

Standard three-view radiographs (anteroposterior, lateral, and mortise) are necessary to properly evaluate the bony anatomy and confirm the deformity 2
For non-painful swelling at the base of the fifth metatarsal, MRI is the preferred advanced imaging modality if radiographs are negative, as it can detect occult fractures, accessory ossicles, bone marrow edema, and soft tissue pathology 3
Accessory ossicles occur in 4% of asymptomatic subjects and must be differentiated from true deformity through clinical correlation 3