Prevalence of flatfoot and anthropometric comparison between flat and normal feet in the Hausa ethnic group of Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Flat arches in children usually become proper arches and high arches as the child progresses through adolescence and into adulthood. Only if the deformity persists or presents in adolescence or adulthood is it considered abnormal. We sought to determine the incidence of flatfoot in schoolchildren and to make an anthropometric comparison between flat and normal feet with respect to age and sex in the Hausa ethnic group of Nigeria. METHODS: Two hundred 9- to 14-year-old students (100 boys and 100 girls) were studied. Navicular height, medial malleolar height, lateral malleolar height, foot length, and transverse arch length were measured with a ruler, marker, and measuring tape. Statistical analysis was conducted using analysis of variance and independent-samples t tests (P < .05). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of flatfoot was 10% (n = 20) (7% in boys [n = 7] and 13% in girls [n = 13]). Statistically significant differences were found in all of the measured parameters except foot length. This study showed that flatfoot has a higher incidence in girls than in boys in the Hausa ethnic group, with the incidence decreasing with age. CONCLUSIONS: Girls had a higher incidence of flatfoot than boys, and it was also influenced by age.

Racial differences in foot disorders and foot type.

OBJECTIVE: To describe racial differences in the frequency of structural foot disorders and pes planus and pes cavus foot types in a large cohort of African American and white men and women ages ≥50 years. METHODS: Of 1,695 Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project participants evaluated for foot disorders/types in 2006-2010, 4 with lower extremity amputation were excluded, leaving 1,691 available for analyses (mean age 69 years, mean body mass index [BMI] 31.5 kg/m(2) , 68% women, 31% African American). The most common foot disorders/types were identified using a validated foot examination. Each foot disorder/type was compared by race using logistic regression, controlling for age, BMI, and sex. Effect modification between race (African American versus white) and age, BMI (categorized as ≥30 kg/m(2) [obese] or <30 kg/m(2) [nonobese]), sex, and education was examined. RESULTS: Hallux valgus (64%), hammer toes (35%), overlapping toes (34%), and pes planus (23%) were common. Compared to whites, African Americans were almost 3 times more likely to have pes planus and were nearly 5 times less likely to have Tailor's bunions or pes cavus. Among the nonobese, African Americans were more likely than whites to have hallux valgus (adjusted odds ratio [OR(adj) ] 2.01, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.39-2.92), hammer toes (OR(adj) 2.64, 95% CI 1.88-3.70), and overlapping toes (OR(adj) 1.53, 95% CI 1.09-2.13). CONCLUSION: Foot disorders are common among adults ages ≥50 years and differ by race. Future research is needed to determine the etiology of foot problems, especially those with racial differences, in order to inform prevention approaches.

The Maori foot exhibits differences in plantar loading and midfoot morphology to the Caucasian foot.

The question being addressed in the current study was whether the diabetic Maori foot was more or less prone to ulceration than the diabetic New Zealand Caucasian (NZC) foot. Harris mat and pedobarographic analyses were employed to assess static and dynamic foot morphology and plantar loading in 40 Maori and NZC diabetic and non-diabetic participants. Significantly higher peak pressures were exhibited by the diabetic Maori participants compared to their NZC peers at the central forefoot. Significantly higher static and dynamic arch index values and significantly higher sub-arch angle values were exhibited by the non-diabetic Maori participants compared to their NZC peers. The latter findings suggest that healthy Maori may have a predisposition towards having a flatter foot than healthy NZC, which may have footwear design implications.

Characteristics of adult flatfoot in the United States.

Many factors have been suggested to cause flatfoot deformity. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for flatfoot deformity, which itself can be a causative factor for other foot and ankle pathologies. The National Health Interview Survey (Podiatry Supplement) from 1990 was analyzed to determine associations of various demographic factors and other foot and ankle pathologies with self-reported flatfoot deformity. We found statistically significant (P

Anatomía clínica del pie plano / Clinical anatomy of the flat foot

El objetivo del presente trabajo pretende corroborar la existencia de variedades anatómicas que favorecen lalaxitud del tendón del músculo tibial posterior encargado de mantener el arco interno del pie provocando así unaplanamiento del mismo, conformando el pie plano del adulto. La debilidad del arco interno de la bóveda plantar del pie puede ser originada por causas congénitas o adquiridas, dentro de las que podemos citar la laxitud tendinosa y la presencia de huesos supernumerarios. Este arco interno está conformado por una parte ósea; Calcáneo, astrágalo, escafoides, los tres cuneiformes y los tres primeros metatarsianos con sus respectivas falanges y por una parte tendinosa constituida por tendón del músculo tibial posterior. Materiales y Método: El estudio comparativo se realizó con veinte pacientes con diagnóstico previo de pie plano, 14 del sexo femenino y 6 del sexo masculino, con edades que oscilaron entre los 40 y 70 años que asistieron al Servicio de Flebología y Linfología del Hospital Nacional de Clínicas. Resultados: los resultados obtenidos demostraron que del total de disecciones en; 62,50 % de los casos el tendón del músculo tibial posterior se insertaba de forma clásica, en el 31,25 % se observó que el tendón discurría por la cara interna y superior del escafoides y no por el borde inferior del mismo como es lo habitual. En un 6,25 % de los casos se encontró un hueso supernumerario escafoides accesorio (o tibial externo). La comparación anátomo- clínica arrojó que del 100% de pacientes con pie plano, el 70 % presentó clínica de disfunción del tibial posterior. Conclusiones: los datos obtenidos confirman la presencia de variedades anatómicas que comprometen al músculo tibial posterior y que repercuten directamente en la incidencia del pie plano del adulto, una patología que es de considerable frecuencia en nuestro medio y de asidua consulta médica.

The objective of the present work tries to corroborate the existence of anatomical varieties that encouragelaxity in the tendon responsible for maintaining the arch of the foot causing a flattening of the same, forming the adultflatfoot.-The weakness of the internal arc of the plantar vault of the foot can be originated by congenital or acquiredcauses, within which we can cite the tendon laxity and the presence of supernumerary bones. This inner arc consists of a bony part; Calcaneous, talus, navicular, the three cuneiforms and the first three metatarsals their phalanxes andone part consisting of tendon of tibialis posterior tendon.- Materials and Method: we used for this study 16 anatomical parts 10% formaldehyde, 8 female and 8 male, aged ranging between 50 and 60, taken at random, stuffed with classic instrumental dissection belonging to the chair of normal anatomy and comparative study with twenty patients with a previous diagnosis of flat foot, 14 females and 6 males with ages ranging from 40 and 70 who attended the service Phlebology and Lymph logy National Clinical Hospital. Results: the results showed that of all dissections in; 62.50% of the cases the tendon of tibialis posterior wasinserted in a classic, 31.25% in the tendon was noted that flowed through the inside and top of the scaphoid and notRevista Argentina de MorfologíaRev Arg Morfol 2009; 1: 8-12 9by the bottom edge as usual. and 6.25% was found for the presence of an accessory navicular bone supernumerary(or tibia). Anatomic-clinical comparisons daring that 100% of patients with flat feet, 70% clinical accuse posteriortibial dysfunction. Conclusions: the data obtained allow us confirm the existence of anatomical varieties which compromise theposterior tibial muscle and affecting the incidence adult flat foot, a condition which is of considerable frequency in our diligent and medical consultation.