The Balloon Foot ; A Rare Presentation Of Congenital Constricting Annular Band

Abstract

We present a case of a rare manifestation of congenital constricting annular band (CAB) in the lower extremity resulting in a severe excessive swelling of the foot which we have termed Balloon foot. The ballooned foot is caused by a progressive deepening of the circumferential constriction into the soft tissue of the lower extremity in region of the ankle. Conventional Z-plasty staged surgical releases of the constriction band was unsuccessful in this case, probably due to extreme and sustained peripheral vascular compromise of the foot from the exerting tourniquet effect of the severe band.
We highlight the presenting features and the poor treatment prognosis.


Keywords: Balloon foot; Congenital Annular Band; Constriction ring.

Annals of Biomedical Science Vol. 4 (1) 2005: pp. 42-45