Calcaneal Lengthening For Correction of Symptomatic Flexible Flat Foot in Children

Abstract

Background ; The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical, functional and radiological outcome of calcaneal lengthening osteotomy for the treatment of symptomatic flatfoot deformity in children. Methods; A prospective multicentre study on 29 feet of 23 patients who underwent lateral calcaneal lengthening for symptomatic flatfoot in children in the period between October 2015 and June 2017. Inclusion criteria were symptomatic flexible flatfoot in children with failed non operative treatment. During the study period, 29 feet of 23 patients with symptomatic flatfoot underwent calcaneal lengthening osteotomy. All patients met the inclusion criteria and were available for clinical and radiological follow-up. The percentage male were (62%)–female were (38%), The mean age at time of surgery was 10.4 years old (7 – 17 years old) and their mean follow up period was 26.2months.The mean functional American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score had improved from 43.45 (31-55) preoperatively to 85.52 (68-92) postoperatively at last follow up (P value < 0.001) using paired t-test as a significance test for evaluation of pre and post-operative AOFAS score Conclusions; The results of this study support the combination of lateral column lengthening and soft tissue reconstruction for treatment of Plano-valgus foot deformity, The adopted technique revealed satisfactory result both in children and adolescents.