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A 12-year-old Malaysian girl has been treated for a rare condition which left her struggling to wear shoes or even walk, Daily Mirror reports.

The unnamed youngster was born with Macrodystrophia Lipomatosa (MDL), otherwise known as gigantism, which enlarged the first and second toes on her right foot. The non-hereditary condition causes the progressive enlargement of the fibrofatty tissue, making them reach abnormal sizes.

She was diagnosed with MDL at birth, but had not attended a follow-up visit to the doctors since. The girl’s parents, who live in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, took her to hospital as her foot deformity had worsened over time. The young patient’s condition made it difficult for her to wear shoes.

It also left the girl, who is the third of four children, with walking difficulties. Her medical team said: “Plain radiographs and MRI findings revealed the accumulation of fatty tissue around the first and second toes, medial and lateral aspects of the first metatarsal, extending up to the medial plantar arch of the foot.

"MDL is a very uncommon kind of congenital localised gigantism, and surgical consultation is frequently performed for cosmetic reasons." To enhance foot functionality and alleviate any issues with wearing footwear, the medical team carried out a successful reconstruction operation.

As a result of the surgical intervention, the patient can now wear shoes and walk without any difficulties. Her family has no previous history of MDL or any other congenital conditions. In 2021, the Mirror reported the case of an eight-month-old girl from India, who was born with the same disorder.