🦶 Flat Foot Surgery
🔹 What is Flat Foot?

Flat foot (also called pes planus) means the arches of the feet are collapsed, so the whole foot touches the ground.

Common in children (often flexible, improves with age).

In adults, it may cause pain, swelling, instability, or difficulty walking if severe.

👉 Surgery is considered only if pain and disability persist after non-surgical treatments (orthotics, physiotherapy, braces).

🔹 Types of Flat Foot

Flexible Flatfoot – arch appears when not weight-bearing but disappears on standing.

Rigid Flatfoot – arch is absent even when non-weight-bearing (usually more severe).

Adult-Acquired Flatfoot – often due to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (weak tendon on inner ankle).

🔹 Goals of Surgery

Restore arch of the foot.

Relieve pain & swelling.

Improve walking, balance, and shoe comfort.

Correct deformity and prevent worsening arthritis.

🔹 Types of Flat Foot Surgery (Based on Severity)
1. Soft Tissue Procedures

Tendon repair or transfer (e.g., moving a healthy tendon to replace the damaged posterior tibial tendon).

Lengthening of calf muscle or Achilles tendon (if tight and pulling foot flat).

2. Bone Procedures (Osteotomies)

Cutting and repositioning bones to create an arch.

Medializing calcaneal osteotomy – heel bone is shifted inward.

Lateral column lengthening – lengthens outer side of foot to realign arch.

3. Arthrodesis (Joint Fusion)
. Fusing joints in the hindfoot (subtalar, talonavicular, calcaneocuboid).
. Used in severe flatfoot or arthritis.
. Provides pain relief but reduces mobility.

4. Implants (Subtalar Arthroereisis)
. Small implant placed in subtalar joint to support arch (mainly in children/adolescents).

🔹 Risks
⚠️ Infection.
⚠️ Nerve injury → numbness/tingling.
⚠️ Overcorrection or undercorrection.
⚠️ Non-union (bone not healing properly).
⚠️ Persistent stiffness or arthritis (esp. after fusion).

🔹 Recovery Timeline
. Hospital stay: 1–3 days.
. Non-weight bearing (cast/boot): 6–8 weeks.
. Partial weight bearing: after ~2 months.
. Full weight bearing: 3 months.
. Physiotherapy: essential for strength & flexibility.
. Return to sports/normal life: 6–12 months depending on surgery type.