Flat foot: a comparison of surgical methods

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Podiatric Medicine
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Idiopathic flat foot is a common condition requiring effective surgical interventions.
• Existing treatments for idiopathic flat foot include various arthrorisis techniques.
• Comparative analysis of different arthrorisis methods is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes of Castaman exosinotarsal arthrorisis versus Giannini endosinotarsal arthrorisis for treating idiopathic flat foot.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and complication rates associated with each surgical technique.
• To determine which method offers superior results with minimal invasiveness.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective comparative review of 80 patients undergoing surgery for idiopathic flat foot between 1990 and 1998.
• 40 patients were treated with Castaman exosinotarsal arthrorisis (calcaneo-stop) using conical screws.
• 40 patients were treated with Giannini endosinotarsal arthrorisis using screws.

Main Results:

• Both surgical methods demonstrated effectiveness in treating idiopathic flat foot, with good, fair, and poor outcomes assessed.
• Implantation techniques for both procedures were found to be straightforward.
• The Castaman method with conical screws resulted in less injury to the anatomical structures of the subtalar joint compared to the Giannini method.

Conclusions:

• Both Castaman exosinotarsal arthrorisis and Giannini endosinotarsal arthrorisis are effective treatments for idiopathic flat foot.
• The Castaman method offers an advantage due to its less invasive nature on the subtalar joint.
• Further research may explore long-term functional differences and patient-reported outcomes between these arthrorisis techniques.