# Recurrent Cavus Foot in an Adolescent With Marfan Syndrome: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A teenager with Marfan syndrome had recurring foot deformity after surgery, showing that early treatment may not always prevent future issues.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the potential for recurrence after joint-sparing osteotomies in adolescents with Marfan syndrome.

## Key findings

- A 13-year-old with Marfan syndrome had cavovarus foot deformity corrected with osteotomies at age 12.
- The deformity and pain recurred two years later despite initial successful treatment.
- The case emphasizes the need for counseling families about possible recurrence after early surgical interventions.

## Abstract

Patients with Marfan syndrome typically have pes planus foot deformity, while some develop the opposite, cavus foot. Here, we describe the case of an adolescent with Marfan characteristics and a painful cavovarus foot, who underwent surgical correction but later experienced recurrent deformity and metatarsalgia. Osteotomies are the preferred treatment for cavus foot in patients aged five through skeletal maturity, providing symptom relief and preserving future definitive surgical options. In contrast, joint arthrodesis procedures are reserved for those who have reached skeletal maturity. In this case report, a 13-year-old male with Marfan syndrome underwent joint-sparing osteotomies at 12 for severe cavovarus deformity, achieving deformity correction and pain relief for two years until symptoms and deformity recurred. He was offered further corrective surgery, but his family remained hesitant. This case highlights that, while joint-sparing procedures before skeletal maturity offer temporary relief and preserve future options, recurrence is a possibility; therefore, patients and their families should be counseled accordingly.