Quality of life in individuals with chronic foot conditions: a cross sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic foot conditions have been reported to be a significant cause of impairment and disability to individuals affected. However, studies to date have particularly focussed on patient satisfaction with outcomes following surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of three common foot conditions on the levels of impairment and quality of life prior to surgery. Three conditions include Hallux Valgus (HV), Hallux Rigidus (HR) and Hammer Toe (HT).

METHODS: This was a pilot cross-sectional observational study of people who were radiologically and clinically diagnosed with one of the three common foot pathologies: HV, HR and HT. Age and gender matched controls were also recruited. Self-reported quality of life was measured.

RESULTS: The SF-36 scores did not differ significantly between the groups. There was a significant difference in self reported impairment between the groups on the Global Foot and Ankle Scale indicating that the 'bilateral foot group' perceived themselves to be significantly more impaired than their counterparts in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Patient quality of life is now recognised as one of the most important outcomes of surgery. These findings serve to highlight the level of impairment and quality of life of individuals prior to surgery.