Conservative treatment of longitudinal flat feet in children

Authors

  • O. V. Shulga Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukraine
  • O. A. Danylov Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukraine
  • V. V. Gorelyk Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15574/PS.2018.60.88

Keywords:

longitudinal flatfoot, pain syndrome, children, serial casting

Abstract

Longitudinal static flat feet in children (LSFFC) makes up to 58% of the total orthopaedic foot pathology. Conventional treatment and prevention methods do not provide a significant therapeutic effect and a steady, long-term result. This encourages the search for more efficient methods of conservative treatment of LSFFC of I-II grades.

Objective: to create the most efficient algorithm for conservative comprehensive treatment of LSFFC of I-II grade variations depending upon the results of the foot mobility, electromyographic parameters of muscular activity, radiological indices, and the severity of pain syndrome.

Materials and methods. The parameters obtained in the treatment of 31 patients aged from 6 to 16 years with LSFFC of I-II grades with pain syndrome were analysed. All patients were divided into three groups: group I (the control group) comprised 13 patients, group II (the main group) included 9 children, and in group III (the main group) 10 children were enrolled. The following clinical and instrumental methods of examination were used: interviewing, physical examination, X-ray, electromyography, assessment of the foot mobility degree and pain syndrome.

Results. The study of the clinical picture at the end of treatment showed a significant improvement in the condition of patients with longitudinal flat feet of the main group: a reduction of the main clinical symptoms of the disease, positive X-ray and electromyographic changes, normalization of the foot mobility.

Conclusions. Longitudinal flat feet in children is a complex pathology of the foot, which causes violation of locomotion, statics, contributes to the emergence of pain syndrome. Owing to the proposed method of conservative treatment, it is possible to reduce the progression of the pathology and to improve the patient’s quality of life.

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Issue

Section

Original articles. Orthopedics