Background: Flexible Flat Foot [FFF] in children is a frequent abnormality. Although its benign nature, sometimes a significant pain and discomfort is sufficient enough to consider surgery for alleviating symptoms. Subtalar arthroereisis is becoming more popular as a treatment for FFF symptoms.
Aim of the work: To assess the feasibility of subtalar joint screw arthroereisis procedure in the treatment of FFF in children and assess its related outcomes.
Patients and methods: This prospective interventional study, where a total of 10 patients [20 feet] presented with bilateral flexible flatfeet were enrolled in our study. Patients were treated with Subtalar joint Screw Arthroereisis. The American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society [AOFAS] score was employed to assess preoperative status and postoperative healing of ankle and hindfoot function. The three main components are pain, function, and alignment.
Results: The mean preoperative AOFAS score was 52.5 ± 13.5 [range, 23 – 75]. At 3-month and 6-month follow-up, the average AOFAS score was 85 ± 11.3 [range, 65 – 95], and 87 ± 7.8 [range, 70 – 96], respectively. Fourteen [70%] feet had good functional scores, and six [30%] feet had excellent scores.
Conclusion: Subtalar joint screw arthroereisis technique was safe and effective in the treatment of flexible flatfoot in children. It was minimally invasive procedure associated with low operative time, good clinical and radiologic outcome and low complication rate.