title: Ground reaction forces on the plantar surface of the foot after talectomy in the myelomeningocele.
abstract: Results of talectomies in 19 patients with severe foot deformities secondary to myelomeningocele were evaluated with an average follow-up of 12 years, 7 months. Although an apparently plantigrade foot was usually obtained, talectomy rarely succeeded in distributing weightbearing forces uniformly over the plantar surface. Photoelastic force-plate analysis incorporating three-dimensional contour mapping clearly identified areas of high ground-foot reaction forces (GFRs) and high-pressure gradients. We suggest that such high-pressure areas predispose these patients to neurotrophic ulceration.
authors.affiliation: Myelomeningocele Clinic, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 19129.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Sherk
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Marchinski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clancy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melchonni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005532:Foot Deformities, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications*; D011312:Pressure; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D013628:Talus / Q000601:surgery*