Correlation between primary flat foot and lower extremity rotational misalignment in adults.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to identify rotational abnormalities of the lower limb in adult patients with primary symptomatic flatfoot.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

From September 2009 to May 2012, 24 patients (12 women, 12 men; mean age: 40 years) were prospectively included in the study. Each patient underwent radiographs of the flat foot and weight-bearing upright EOS® examination. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the lower extremities were performed with derived measurements (length, hip and knee parameters, rotations). A total of 31 symptomatic primary flat feet (bilateral flat foot, n=7 patients; unilateral flat foot, n=17 patients) were studied and compared to 30 control subjects matched for age and gender. A comparison between the two groups was made with the Student t-test.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between patients and control subjects on the coronal and sagittal planes. Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups for rotation of the lower limbs (femoral torsion, tibial torsion, tibiofemoral rotation).

CONCLUSION

There are no rotational abnormalities of the lower extremities in adult patients with primary symptomatic flat foot.