title: Idiopathic pes cavus in adults is not associated with neurophysiological impairment in the lower limbs.
abstract: The nerve conduction characteristics of adults with idiopathic pes cavus/hammer toes have not been studied extensively. Among 2048 out-patients (59.5 ± 13.9 years) referring to a laboratory of Neurophysiology in Rome, we recruited 18 patients with idiopathic pes cavus (61.3 ± 12.5 years). Fifty-four age/sex-matched controls were also studied. No nerve conduction differences were observed between patients with and without cavus foot (p > 0.05). The absence of deep tendon reflexes and slight muscle weakness and hypotrophy in the lower limbs were more common in subjects with cavus foot deformity than in controls (p < 0.001). Adult patients with idiopathic pes cavus/hammer toes do not differ from healthy controls from a neurophysiological standpoint, but they could show minor signs of clinical impairment, such as lower limb weakness, hypotrophy and areflexia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica, 79, 04100, Latina, Italy. rodifa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Fabio
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, San Camillo Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lispi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine, IRCCS Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Santorelli
authors.affiliation: , Casa San Lucio, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castagnoli
authors.affiliation: , Casa San Lucio, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matrigale
authors.affiliation: , Casa San Lucio, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Locuratolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fattapposta
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010045:Outpatients; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods
keywords: Hammer toes; Neurophysiology; pes cavus