Surgical Treatment for Planovalgus Foot in Children with Generalized Ligamentous Laxity / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Planovalgus deformity in children with generalized ligamentous laxity is usually asymptomatic, but it sometimes causes severe deformity and functional problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate, post-operatively, functional outcomes, plantar pressure and radiographic results of symptomatic planovalgus with generalized ligamentous laxity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included a total of 42 feet of 24 patients that had undergone a calcaneal lengthening osteotomy or an extra-articular subtalar arthrodesis. The mean age of the patients at the time of the index operation was 10.5 years (range, 6-15.6 years), and the mean duration of follow-up was 51 months (range, 18-92 months). Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically using the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire, AOFAS score, Mosca criteria, standard radiographs and dynamic pedobarographs. RESULTS: Functional outcomes at the latest available follow-up were excellent except for three feet. No foot had a significant limitation affecting the patient's daily activities. Both surgical treatments improved radiographic parameters. The parameters of dynamic pedobarographs, including the relative vertical impulse and the peak pressure, decreased for the medial aspect of the forefoot and midfoot, while they increased for the lateral aspect of the forefoot, midfoot and calcaneus after surgical treatment. The change in the center of pressure indicated a significant lateral shift in the weight-bearing surface of the foot. CONCLUSION: Calcaneal lengthening osteotomy and extra-articular subtalar arthrodesis appear to be effective means for pain relief and clinical improvement in children with symptomatic planovalgus deformity and generalized ligamentous laxity. Further follow-up evaluation is needed to obtain long-term clinical and radiographic results with regard to skeletal maturation and changes in generalized ligamentous laxity.

A Clinical Review of Grice Extra / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Grice extra-articular subtalar arthrodesis has been performed as either a temporizing or a definite procedure in young children to correct the dynamic hindfoot valgus deformity without affecting subsequent growth of the foot. Fifty eight extra-articular subtalar arthrodesis in thirty patients, performed at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from setpember 1985 to June 1989, were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results. There were 52 valgus feet in 26 patients and 6 varus feet in 4 patients secondary to cerebral palsy, meningomyelocele, congenital snomalies, and other neuromuscular diseases. In many instances, additional tendon surgeries were also required to correct deformities or achieve the muscle balance. The review consisted of personal interview, physical examination, and radiological assessment. On physical examination, preoperative hindfoot valgus deformty(mean: 14.3°clinically) was well corrected, postoperative hindfoot valgus ranging from neutral to valgus 5°clinically in 35 of 52 cases(67.3%). Correction of the lateral talocalcaneal angle on standing lateral radiographic view averaged 8.5 degrees(from 57.3 degrees preoperatively to 37.6 degrees postoperatively). In valgus feet, there were 3 cases with mild pain around the ankle joint. There were 5 cases of graft resorption and 2 cases of nonunion. Graft failure was more frequent when the proximal end of the graft was directed anterior to the weight bearing axis. With original Grice subtalar arthrodesis, satisfactory results were obtained in 34 of 52(65.4%) hindfoot valgus feet. In 6 varus feet, there were 1 undercorrection and 2 recurrence of varus deformity. We re-emphasize the importance of strict operative technique to obtain satisfactory results. We also believe that Grice procedure may be used for the correction of subtalar instability in selected cases of varus foot before muscle baancing procedures.