Medium term outcomes of planovalgus foot correction in children using a lateral column lengthening approach with additional procedures 'a la carte'.
BACKGROUND
We report our medium term outcomes following surgery for symptomatic planovalgus malalignment in children. The technique we describe commences with lateral column lengthening and includes subsequent bony and soft tissue procedures which are carried out 'a la carte' in response to the underlying pathology and the behaviour of the foot to the lateral column lengthening.


METHODS
Surgery was undertaken on twenty five symptomatic planovalgus feet in 15 patients at a mean age of 12 years and 6 months (5 years 7 months to 16 years and 3 months). The case-mix was principally idiopathic pes planovalgus but included overcorrected club foot and skewfoot deformity. Following lateral column lengthening (using a tricortical interpositional os calcis bone graft) the 'a la carte' elements of the surgery undertaken included both bony and soft tissue elements: heel shift; medial cuneiform osteotomy with iliac crest tricortical bone grafting, peroneus brevis/peroneus longus transfer; plantar fascia release; tibialis posterior advancement. VAS FA and AOFAS scores, clinical findings and complications were recorded.


RESULTS
Twelve patients (20 feet) were available for follow up at a mean of 4 years and 6 months years (2 years and 8 months to 6 years and 3 months). VAS FA and AOFAS scores were 82±17 (50-99), 87±14 (61-100) and 80±10 (62-100), respectively. In all patients the reconstituted medial arch was maintained. Three patients (5 feet) required a second corrective procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
We propose lateral column lengthening with additional 'a la carte' procedures in the surgical treatment of symptomatic pes planovalgus in childhood as a reliable corrective surgical procedure on the basis of favourable medium term functional outcomes.
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK. Electronic address: pasha16suita@mail.ru.
Pavel
P
Akimau
Department of Paediatric Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TH, UK. Electronic address: mark.flowers@sch.nhs.uk.
Mark
M
Flowers
D000293:Adolescent; D001852:Bone Lengthening; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005413:Flatfoot / Q000601:surgery*; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Children; Column; Deformity; Lateral; Planovalgus