Failure of Surgical Treatment in Patients with Cavovarus Deformity: Why Does This Happen and How Do We Approach Treatment?

Recurrent deformity after surgical treatment of the cavus foot occurs because a procedure is not performed at the apex of the deformity. In many instances there are multiple apices and, in addition to hindfoot osteotomy or arthrodesis, the midfoot must be corrected. There is not much of a role for the Coleman block test to determine flexibility of the foot, and this has led to many failures where the foot was believed flexible and an osteotomy was insufficient treatment. Skeletal correction, even if perfect, does not last unless the foot is balanced with appropriate tendon transfers.