[The acquired flatfoot: mid-term results of the medial displacement calcaneal-osteotomy with flexor digitorum longus transfer].

Abstract

Aim: The present retrospective study investigates the mid-term results after medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy combined with flexor digitorum longus transfer for the treatment of acquired flatfoot deformity due to posterior tibial tendon insufficiency at stage II (Johnson and Strom Classification).

Method: 30 feet in 29 patients (6 male, 23 female) with an average age of 58 years (from 43 to 68 years) had surgery between 1995 and 2001. All feet were examined at an average follow-up of 58.5 months (range 35-97 months) and were evaluated with the American-Orthopaedic-Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hindfoot-Score.

Results: The average AOFAS-Score was 88.8+/-10.7 points (range 48 to 100) at final follow-up. The AOFAS-pain-subscale score was 34+/-6.2 points. At the latest follow-up were 14 feet (47%) painfree, 14 feet (47%) noted mild pain and 2 feet (6%) had daily pain. One foot (3%) had pain due to subluxation of the musculus flexor digitorum longus tendon, in another one pain was caused by a contract Chopart joint (3%). Further complications were painful prominent hardware (17%) and neuralgia of the sural nerve (7%).

Conclusion: The authors conclude that the combination of the medial calcaneal displacement osteotomy with flexor digitorum longus transfer may provide optimal results in patients with adult acquired flatfoot deformity and posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction.