Prosthesis for bilateral equinus foot: A case study.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic treatment
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Gait analysis

Background:

• Surgical interventions for equinus foot are common, but orthopedic treatments using prostheses are less explored.
• Prostheses have been used for lower-limb inequality but not specifically for equinus foot management.
• This study investigates prostheses as a potential treatment for bilateral equinus foot.

Observation:

• A 45-year-old patient with poliomyelitis sequelae and irreducible bilateral equinus foot was managed with orthoses, orthopedic shoes, and subsequently prostheses.
• Spatiotemporal gait parameters, patient autonomy, and satisfaction (using QUEST score) were measured.
• The patient experienced a postpoliomyelitis syndrome, leading to physical ability deterioration.

Findings:

• Prostheses helped maintain the patient's gait parameters and autonomy despite physical decline.
• Prosthetic tolerance significantly improved, with the QUEST score increasing from 2.95 to 4.67 out of 5.
• Prosthetic use was found to be as effective, if not better tolerated, than orthoses and orthopedic shoes.

Implications:

• Prosthetic management can be a successful alternative to surgery for bilateral equinus foot.
• This approach can preserve or improve walking function and patient satisfaction in individuals with neurological sequelae.
• Further research into prosthetic applications for equinus foot is warranted.