Medial arch orthosis for paediatric flatfoot

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Flatfoot is a common condition in children.
• Symptomatic flatfoot can lead to pain and functional limitations.
• Assessing foot angles and patient-reported outcomes is crucial for treatment evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between foot angles and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) pain scores.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a medial arch orthosis in treating pediatric flatfoot.

Main Methods:

• 81 children with bilateral symptomatic flatfoot were randomized into an orthosis group (n=55) or a control group (n=26).
• The orthosis group received a medial arch support, while the control group received analgesics.
• Various foot angles (talocalcaneal, talo-metatarsal, calcaneal pitch, talonavicular) and AOFAS pain scores were measured.

Main Results:

• Medial arch orthosis treatment significantly improved AOFAS scores and most foot angles.
• In the orthosis group, AOFAS hindfoot scores correlated with lateral talocalcaneal and calcaneal pitch angles.
• In the control group, specific foot angles correlated with AOFAS forefoot and midfoot scores.

Conclusions:

• Medial arch support orthosis is effective in improving AOFAS scores and foot angles in children with flatfoot.
• Calcaneal pitch and lateral talocalcaneal angles show a significant correlation with AOFAS hindfoot scores.