THE PEDIATRIC FLAT FOOT: PRE AND POST SURGICAL CORRECTION 3D KINEMATICS DATA

Introduction: aim of this study was to establish normality parameters and analyze 3D kinematic data before and after surgical correction of the pediatric flexible flat foot Materials and methods: study population was composed of 2 groups: 10 children (20 feet, 5M/5F)without any disorders of the foot were evaluated to obtain normal reference data; 20 children with bilateral flexible flatfoot candidate to bilateral surgical correction (40 feet, 13M/7F) The RFM -3D kinematics protocol was used. Clinical, radiographic and instrumental evaluation were performed preoperatively and at 12 months by the same surgeon An arthroereisis of the subtalar joint was performed by the same surgeon. Patients were divided in 3 groups:1:normality;2:before surgery;3: after surgery. For all the variables and for the three planes of the space comparison between groups were performed. Results: 3D rotational joint variables and planar angles were defined for normality, before and after sur-gery at the upright standing position. Differences were observed: hind foot , frontal plane; Chopart Joint ,transverse plane; Lisfanc Joint, frontal/transverse planes; ratio between 1rst and 2nd metatarsal, transverse plane; 2nd and 5th metatarsal versus ground respectively, sagittal plane; MLA, transverse plane Discussion/conclusions:: different variables, normalized after correction, suggest that surgery performed at the hind foot can also improves mid foot pronation, increases the medial longitudinal arch and im-proves ratio between metatarsal bones, allowing to quantify changes that clinical and radiological evaluation cannot provide. The pediatric foot is similar to the adults and pediatric flexible flat foot could be corrected surgically, even if painless.