Gait Analysis in Patients with Symptomatic Pes Planovalgus Following Subtalar Arthroereisis with the Talus Screw

Background

Pes planovalgus is one of the most common pediatric skeletal deformities. There have been no studies to analyze in detail the spatiotemporal variables of gait following arthroereisis.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of our study was to assess gait parameters in patients with symptomatic flexible flatfoot following treatment with the talus screw.

Methods

This was a prospective study assessing the 22 patients treated surgically due to symptomatic flexible flatfoot with the talus screw. Patients underwent gait assessment with a G-Sensor. We analyzed the following gait parameters: gait cycle duration, step length, support phase duration, swing phase duration, double support duration, single support duration, cadence, velocity, step length.

Results

The post-operative gait parameter assessment for the operated and non-operated foot showed a significant difference only in terms of step length. Cadence increased from the pre-operative mean of 82.29 steps/min to a post-operative mean of 102.94 steps/min. Gait velocity increased significantly from 0.81 m/s before to 0.96 m/s after surgery.

Discussion

Arthroereisis with the talus screw helps improve gait parameters following surgery. Post-operatively, we observed increased gait velocity and cadence and decreased gait cycle duration in the operated limb.

Conclusion

Short-term biomechanical outcomes of pes planovalgus treatment with the talus screw are good.