67 and 68 - Flatfoot Surgery I and II Flashcards
Goals
- Distinguish components of clinical and radiographic evaluation of pathologically pronated foot
- Recognize the indications for various conservative and surgical treatments
- Identify level of deformity
- Differentiate the mechanics of corrective osteotomies before attempting to memorize historic names of procedures
Is Pronation Good or Bad?
Depends on if it is physiologic or pathologic pronation
Physiologic Pronation
o Necessary for shock absorption
o Movement is decelerated by muscle function
o Balanced by normal supination through GRF & muscle function based on axis position and orientation
Pathologic Pronation
o Joints, tendons, and ligaments are forced to function beyond their physiologic limits
o Net Result: Subluxation, dislocation, degeneration
o Flexible or Rigid
o Arch may be high, low or average
o Compensation for equinus or other deformities
Triplane movement – Pronation
Open Chain
o Eversion
o Abduction
o Dorsiflexion
Closed Chain
o Eversion
o Internal leg rotation
o Plantar flexion of the hind foot on the forefoot
Pronation
- Starts at heel strike and should end at mid-stance
- Major mechanism of shock absorption
- Muscle activity required to slow pronation
- Inefficient and degenerative if excessive
o Joint subluxation and degeneration
o Tendon degeneration
Pathologic pronation
- Arch height is not the primary determinant o Arch may be high, low or average - Hallmarks of Pathologic Pronation o Progressive subluxation o Soft tissue degeneration o Postural symptoms of foot, ankle, calf, knee, back o Joint degeneration - May be primary o Due to laxity or axis anatomy - Or secondary to compensation for static deformity or kinematic abnormality o MTA o Equinus
Conditions associated with pathologic compensatory pronation
Non structural o Heel pain & Plantar fasciitis o Shin splints o Medial Peri-Tendonitis o Knee pain (Patello-Femoral Syndrome) o Low back pain o Decreased endurance
Structural o HAV & Hammer toes o Mid foot subluxation o Tendinosis / PTTD o Degenerative arthritis o Stress fracture
Over pronation leads to:
- Medial stretching
- Lateral jamming
- Excess muscle energy expenditure
- Joint degeneration
- Secondary deformities
- Increases the demands on the leg muscles, knee, hip and back
Joints moving beyond their physiologic limits
- Left image: normal foot position
- Right image: pronated foot position
Goal of surgery to correct flatfoot
- Achieve rotational equilibrium
Indications for flatfoot correction
- Restore proper biomechanics to the foot and the lower extremity
- Improve stability and function
- Halt progression
- Treat painful symptoms
- To alleviate or prevent structural and non-structural associated conditions
Flatfoot correction options
Posterior Muscle/Tendon Lengthening
o Reduces the pronatory force on the foot
o The foot pronates (dorsilexes at the midfoot) to compensate for the lack of ankle dorsiflexion
Calcaneal Osteotomy
o Realigns the subtalar and midtarsal axis
o Increases the supination force medial to the STJ axis
o Permanently reduces pronation and subluxation
Medial arch reconstruction required if secondary degeneration or tendon rupture has occurred
Correction of secondary deformities
Surgical correction principles
Primary correction
o Changes the axis alignment of the STJ / MTJ complex which results in improved stability and reduces secondary changes
o Removes compensatory forces
Secondary correction
o Repairs structures damaged by the pathologic pronation
Physical exam for flatfoot
Open Kinetic Exam
o Hypermobile STJ/MTJ with subluxation
o Normal muscle strength all groups
o Ankle ROM: DF -15 degrees, PF 50 degrees
Closed kinetic exam o RCSP 9 degrees everted o Medial TN subluxation o Patella internally rotated o Abducted forefoot
Questions regarding flatfoot correction
- In which plane is this foot deformed? All 3 – it is a tri-plane deformity
- How many procedures will be needed to realign the foot? ONE
- Does each plane need to be addressed individually? NO
Rotational equilibrium
- You can figure out the right procedure if you understand rotational equilibrium
- Remove deforming forces (i.e. equinus)
- Move GRF medial relative to effective STJ axis
o Pick the most effective site
o Structural alteration results in multi-plane correction - Treat secondarily degenerative joints and tendons
- Give stability where there is instability
What are the procedure choices?
- Remove the deforming forces
- Change the GRF