Clubfoot is a condition that some children are born with. It is characterized by several different deformities including varus of the hindfoot, equinus, and adduction of the midfoot and forefoot.
Tarsal coalitions are a relatively common problem that can affect foot and ankle function. These occur during the development in the bones and joints of the foot and the most 2 common places they happen is between the talus and calcaneus at the middle facet of the subtalar joint and also at the calcaneal navicular joint where an abnormal connection of these bones can form.
We commonly see these start to bother patients in the younger teenage years, and they typically present with a rigid flat foot type deformity and often times have peroneal tendinitis or symptoms over the peroneal tendons associated such as spasm.
Sometimes, if the flatfoot deformity is mild, arch supports or orthotics can be a helpful treatment to try to alleviate pain.
If the foot is more rigid and very flat, orthotics do not always help these patients and sometimes surgical intervention is necessary. Coalitions can be fibrous which is more of a soft tissue connection or can be osseous where the 2 bones are connected by a bone bridge.
If less than 50% of the joint surface is affected, we typically recommend removing the coalition and fixing any associated deformities such as the flatfoot. If greater than 50% of the joint surface is affected, we sometimes recommend fusion of the joint to try to decrease the pain.
If we are removing the coalition but not fusing the joint, we often interpose different types of tissue to try and prevent the bones from growing back together such as bone wax, fat, or muscle.
The longer you leave a tarsal coalition intact, the higher chance the foot has of becoming more rigid and stiff. This also affects other joints where bone spurs and arthritis can start to grow or worsen.
If you are having any foot and ankle pain or problems, call your Colorado Springs podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons today, so we can help you at 719-488-4664!
You Might Also Enjoy...
Clubfoot is a condition that some children are born with. It is characterized by several different deformities including varus of the hindfoot, equinus, and adduction of the midfoot and forefoot.
The 3 most common reasons people get pain in the ball of the foot are tearing of the plantar plate around the second metatarsophalangeal joint, a Morton's neuroma, or a stress fracture of the metatarsal.
Rheumatoid arthritis typically causes ulnar deviation in the fingers and hands and this also happens in the feet, which we call fibular deviation. This happens when all the toes over time start to drift to a more lateral position.
Freiberg's infarction is a form of avascular necrosis that occurs in the metatarsal heads of the foot. You can read this article to find out more information.
Ankle arthrodesis or fusion procedures have been around for many years. They were previously considered the gold standard to treat end-stage arthritis of the ankle before ankle replacements were developed and became more reliable and popular.
As we pass Labor Day and head into the fall, I hope you have the opportunity to get out and explore all that Colorado has to offer. To fully enjoy many of the outdoor activities we have where we live, we need to have healthy, pain-free feet.