Checkrein deformity: a case report of two patients with hallux deformity and pain following mandibular reconstruction in oral cancer treatment

Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 Sep;24(3):359-362. doi: 10.1007/s10006-020-00852-9. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Abstract

Background: Checkrein deformity is an uncommon disease with a well-described etiology. It is characterized by a dynamic deformity of the hallux or great toe. We report two cases of checkrein deformity due a fibular graft harvesting in two patients with a mandibular bone defect secondary to an oral cancer treatment.

Case report: We report two young patients with mandibular cancers that had been treated several years before our visit and were currently free of disease. The patients had a mandibular bone defect due to the maxillofacial treatment, solved with a free fibular graft. The current complaint was a great toe deformity that caused pain and made them walk with difficulties. Diagnosis was a checkrein deformity, and after a surgical release of the flexor hallucis longus tendon, both cases returned to normal activities with no walking limitations.

Conclusion: Our cases highlight that an accurate patient examination is warranted following these reconstructions as many of them can be misdiagnosed, and a relatively simple surgery can improve the patients' limitations.

Keywords: Checkrein; Fibular graft; Hallux deformity; Mandibular reconstruction; Oral cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Hallux*
  • Humans
  • Mandibular Reconstruction*
  • Mouth Neoplasms*
  • Pain
  • Tendons