Relationship of the Use of Short Footwear with the Development of Hallux Valgus in a Sample of Andalusian Schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown the relationship between poor footwear fit and the risk of feet deformities. The available evidence seems to show that the development of hallux valgus deformity in the feet of schoolchildren may be related to the use of shoes that are poorly fitting in length. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the relationship between poor footwear fit in length and risk of developing hallux valgus. METHODS: Using an instrument that was designed and calibrated for this purpose, maximum foot length was obtained and compared to the inner length of the shoe in 187 schoolchildren. Hallux valgus angle (HVA) was measured on weight-bearing podogram image obtained from the longest foot in 188 schoolchildren. RESULTS: By default, the footwear was poorly fitting in length (too short or close-fitting) in 38.5% of the schoolchildren, with boys having the worst footwear fit; though no significant differences stood out. (p = 0.276). Regarding the HVA, no significant differences were recorded according to age or gender (p = 0.573). A strong correlation was observed between too-short footwear and the increase in HVA in 10-year-old boys (r = 0.817; p = 0.025) and in 9-year-old girls (r = 0.705; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate footwear fit in length may be a predisposing extrinsic risk factor for the development of hallux valgus in schoolchildren of both sexes. Results of the present study demonstrate the need to adapt the sizes of footwear to the rapid increase in foot-length that occur at puberty to avoid the risk of developing hallux valgus, especially at the ages of onset pubertal foot growth.

The impact of functional excess of footwear on the foot shape of 7-year-old girls and boys.

BACKGROUND: Properly fitted shoes can support the development of growing feet and prevent problems and pathologies, not only in childhood, but also in adulthood. This points to the need to conduct research on the impact of shoe fitting on the structure of the foot in order to raise awareness and importance of this problem, to enable proper decisions regarding the purchase and use of shoes. The aim of this study was to analyze indoor footwear fit and its impact on foot structure in 7-year-old schoolchildren. METHODS: The CQ-ST podoscope and the Clevermess device were used for measurements. The analysis was carried out using the Mann Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Chi-square test, regression analysis. RESULTS: About 40% of girls and boys had shoes that were incorrectly fitted in length, while as many as 74% of girls and 66% of boys wore shoes that were incorrectly fitted in width. Regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant influence of the footwear length on longitudinal arch of the right and left foot and the transverse arch of the right foot. In boys, the length of the shoes shows associations with the right and left hallux valgus angle. CONCLUSION: A significant percentage of the studied 7-year-olds, regardless of gender, wears inappropriately fitted shoes. In both sexes, the length of the footwear influenced the longitudinal arch of the right and left foot and the transverse arch of the right foot. Due to the deformity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, the boys with hallux valgus require footwear which is wider and therefore their shoes need to be bigger in size.

Aminophylline infusion for status asthmaticus in the pediatric critical care unit setting is independently associated with increased length of stay and time for symptom improvement.

INTRODUCTION: The role of aminophylline in the treatment of severe acute asthma in the pediatric critical care unit (PCCU) is not clear. We sought to examine the association of aminophylline treatment with PCCU length of stay and time to symptom improvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with severe acute asthma who were admitted to our PCCU and received aminophylline infusion were retrospectively compared with similar patients who did not receive aminophylline. The primary outcome measure was functional length of stay (i.e. time to which patients could be transferred to a general pediatric ward bed). A secondary outcome was time to symptom improvement. RESULTS: Adjusted functional length of stay was longer for subjects who received aminophylline (n = 49) than for the patients who did not (n = 47) (hazard ratio 0.396, p < 0.001), as well as the time for symptom improvement (hazard ratio 0.359, p < 0.001). In the group of subjects receiving aminophylline, those with a serum theophylline level ≥ 10 mcg/ml (therapeutic) (n = 31) had longer functional length of stay (hazard ratio 0.457, p = 0.0225) and time to symptom improvement (hazard ratio 0.403, p = 0.0085) than those with levels < 10 mcg/ml (sub-therapeutic) (n = 18). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of aminophylline to therapy with corticosteroids and inhaled ß-agonists was associated with statistically and clinically significant increases in functional length of stay and time to symptom improvement in the PCCU. This potential morbidity supports the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guideline proscribing aminophylline use in acute asthma.

Radiological Analysis of Osteoarthritis of the Second Metatarsophlangeal and Tarsometatarsal Joint / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the radiological characteristics of the osteoarthritis of the second metatarsophalangeal (MTP) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and August 2010, 27 patients (33 feet) who had second metatarsal osteoarthritis (OA) were reviewed retrospectively. Group 1 was 14 patients (17 feet) with second MTP joint OA. Group 2 was 13 patients (16 feet) with second TMT joint OA. Group 3 was 24 patients (25 feet) had hallux valgus without second metatarsal (MT) OA as control. Weight bearing foot anteroposterior (AP) and lateral view were checked, and measured hallux valgus angle, metatarsus adductus angle (MAA), second MT functional length, first and second MT length by Hardy & Clapham method on AP view, angle of second MT with horizontal plane, calcaneal pitch, talo-first MT on lateral view. RESULTS: On weight bearing foot AP view, second MT functional length of group 1, 2, 3 was 2.4 mm, -0.1 mm, 0.7 mm and MAA of group 1, 2, 3 was 17.7degrees, 17.7degrees, 14.5degrees. Second MT functional length of group 1 was longer than control group and it was statistically significant. MAA was significant different between group 1-3 and group 2-3. Angle of second MT with horizontal plane of group 2 was smaller than control group and it was statistically significant. Other radiographic parameters have no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Group 1 has long functional length of second MT and group 2 has small angle of second MT with horizontal plane.