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Related Experiment Videos

Flexible flat feet in children: a real problem?

A García-Rodríguez1, F Martín-Jiménez, M Carnero-Varo

  • 1Department de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Spain. antoniogr@uma.es

Pediatrics
|June 3, 1999
PubMed
Summary

A study in Málaga found that most children treated for flat feet did not have the condition, suggesting overtreatment. Only 2.7% of schoolchildren had flat feet, yet 14.2% received unnecessary orthopedic treatments.

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Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Podiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Flexible flat feet are common in children, but the actual prevalence and necessity of orthopedic interventions require investigation.
  • Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of pediatric flat feet can lead to unnecessary healthcare costs and patient burden.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of flexible flat feet in schoolchildren aged 4-13 in Málaga Province.
  • To assess the incidence of potentially unnecessary orthopedic treatments for flat feet in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 1181 primary schoolchildren (aged 4-13) from Málaga Province were examined.
  • Plantar footprints were graded for severity using Denis's classification; statistical analyses included Student's t-tests and chi-squared tests.

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Main Results:

  • The prevalence of diagnosed flat feet was 2.7%, while 14.2% of children received orthopedic treatment.
  • Most treated children did not meet diagnostic criteria for flat feet; conversely, only 28.1% of diagnosed cases were treated.
  • Overweight children aged 4-5 showed a higher prevalence of diagnosed flat feet.

Conclusions:

  • The study suggests a significant overprescription of orthopedic treatments for flat feet in Málaga Province.
  • Extrapolation indicated approximately 28,167 children may have received unnecessary treatments, incurring substantial costs.