BACKGROUND:Pediatric flexible flatfoot is a common foot deformity that often leads to foot pain and reduced quality of life.OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between radiographic parameters and clinical efficacy of subtalar arthroereisis in the treatment of pediatric flexible flatfoot.METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted on 56 pediatric patients(mean age of 11.8 years)who underwent subtalar arthroereisis at Guangzhou Orthopedic Hospital between January 2022 and May 2023.All patients underwent detailed radiographic examinations and clinical evaluations before and after surgery,including the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot score and Visual Analog Scale score.Paired t-tests and independent t-tests were used to compare changes in radiographic parameters and clinical scores before and after surgery.Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between radiographic parameters and clinical outcomes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)All radiographic parameters significantly improved during the 8 to 12-month follow-up after surgery(P＜0.001).(2)Clinical evaluation results indicated that the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot score significantly improved from 66.2±6.0 preoperatively to 91.3±5.8 postoperatively,and the Visual Analog Scale score significantly decreased from 3.1±0.8 preoperatively to 1.3±0.8 postoperatively(P＜0.001).(3)Independent t-tests showed a significant difference in postoperative the first metatarsal angle and Visual Analog Scale score grades(P=0.043),with a smaller the first metatarsal angle associated with less postoperative pain;preoperative lateral arch angle showed a significant difference between the"excellent"and"good"groups in postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot scores(P=0.033),suggesting that a smaller preoperative posterior arch angle might predict better postoperative foot function recovery.(4)Correlation analysis showed that preoperative posterior arch angle(r=-0.486,P＜0.01)and heel pitch angle(r=-0.344,P＜0.01)were significantly negatively correlated with postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot,while preoperative medial longitudinal arch angle(r=0.293,P＜0.05)was significantly positively correlated with postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot.Postoperative medial longitudinal arch angle(r=0.331,P＜0.05)and lateral arch angle(r=0.387,P＜0.01)were significantly positively correlated with postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot,whereas postoperative Bohler's angle(r=-0.272,P＜0.05),posterior arch angle(r=-0.461,P＜0.01),and heel pitch angle(r=-0.318,P＜0.01)were significantly negatively correlated with postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot.(5)It is concluded that subtalar arthroereisis is significantly effective in correcting pediatric flexible flatfoot,and improvements in radiographic parameters are closely related to clinical efficacy.Preoperative and postoperative radiographic evaluations can serve as important reference indicators for predicting postoperative clinical outcomes,guiding clinicians to optimize treatment plansand rehabilitation programs.

BACKGROUND:Pediatric flexible flatfoot is a common foot deformity that often leads to foot pain and reduced quality of life.OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between radiographic parameters and clinical efficacy of subtalar arthroereisis in the treatment of pediatric flexible flatfoot.METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted on 56 pediatric patients(mean age of 11.8 years)who underwent subtalar arthroereisis at Guangzhou Orthopedic Hospital between January 2022 and May 2023.All patients underwent detailed radiographic examinations and clinical evaluations before and after surgery,including the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot score and Visual Analog Scale score.Paired t-tests and independent t-tests were used to compare changes in radiographic parameters and clinical scores before and after surgery.Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between radiographic parameters and clinical outcomes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)All radiographic parameters significantly improved during the 8 to 12-month follow-up after surgery(P＜0.001).(2)Clinical evaluation results indicated that the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot score significantly improved from 66.2±6.0 preoperatively to 91.3±5.8 postoperatively,and the Visual Analog Scale score significantly decreased from 3.1±0.8 preoperatively to 1.3±0.8 postoperatively(P＜0.001).(3)Independent t-tests showed a significant difference in postoperative the first metatarsal angle and Visual Analog Scale score grades(P=0.043),with a smaller the first metatarsal angle associated with less postoperative pain;preoperative lateral arch angle showed a significant difference between the"excellent"and"good"groups in postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot scores(P=0.033),suggesting that a smaller preoperative posterior arch angle might predict better postoperative foot function recovery.(4)Correlation analysis showed that preoperative posterior arch angle(r=-0.486,P＜0.01)and heel pitch angle(r=-0.344,P＜0.01)were significantly negatively correlated with postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot,while preoperative medial longitudinal arch angle(r=0.293,P＜0.05)was significantly positively correlated with postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot.Postoperative medial longitudinal arch angle(r=0.331,P＜0.05)and lateral arch angle(r=0.387,P＜0.01)were significantly positively correlated with postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot,whereas postoperative Bohler's angle(r=-0.272,P＜0.05),posterior arch angle(r=-0.461,P＜0.01),and heel pitch angle(r=-0.318,P＜0.01)were significantly negatively correlated with postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot.(5)It is concluded that subtalar arthroereisis is significantly effective in correcting pediatric flexible flatfoot,and improvements in radiographic parameters are closely related to clinical efficacy.Preoperative and postoperative radiographic evaluations can serve as important reference indicators for predicting postoperative clinical outcomes,guiding clinicians to optimize treatment plansand rehabilitation programs.

Objective:To compare suture-button, absorbable screws (AS), and metal screws (MS) in the fixation of ankle fracture complicated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 71 patients with ankle fracture and distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury who had been treated at Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Guangzhou Orthopedics Hospital from February 2020 to February 2023. There were 27 males and 44 females with an age of (49.6±10.3) years. The patients were assigned into 3 groups according to different treatment methods: a suture-button group in which 32 cases were treated with suture-button, an AS group in which 24 cases were treated with AS, and a MS group in which 15 cases were treated with MS to be removed at 8 to 12 weeks after operation. The 3 groups were compared in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and ankle range of motion, tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), and tibio-fibular overlap (TFOL) at the last follow-up, as well as American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 3 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, operation time, ankle range of motion, TFCS or TFOL between the 3 groups ( P>0.05). TFCS and TFOL at the last follow-up in all patients were significantly improved compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and VAS pain scores in the suture-button group and the AS group at 3 months after operation were significantly better than those in the MS group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score or VAS pain score between the 3 groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). In all patients, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and VAS pain score at the last follow-up were significantly better than those at 3 months after operation which were significantly better than those before operation ( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the fixation of ankle fracture complicated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury, suture-button, AS and MS can all achieve definite clinical efficacy. As fixation with MS requires secondary surgical removal, its early functional score and pain score may be relatively poorer.

Objective:To compare suture-button, absorbable screws (AS), and metal screws (MS) in the fixation of ankle fracture complicated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 71 patients with ankle fracture and distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury who had been treated at Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Guangzhou Orthopedics Hospital from February 2020 to February 2023. There were 27 males and 44 females with an age of (49.6±10.3) years. The patients were assigned into 3 groups according to different treatment methods: a suture-button group in which 32 cases were treated with suture-button, an AS group in which 24 cases were treated with AS, and a MS group in which 15 cases were treated with MS to be removed at 8 to 12 weeks after operation. The 3 groups were compared in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and ankle range of motion, tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), and tibio-fibular overlap (TFOL) at the last follow-up, as well as American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 3 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, operation time, ankle range of motion, TFCS or TFOL between the 3 groups ( P>0.05). TFCS and TFOL at the last follow-up in all patients were significantly improved compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and VAS pain scores in the suture-button group and the AS group at 3 months after operation were significantly better than those in the MS group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score or VAS pain score between the 3 groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). In all patients, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and VAS pain score at the last follow-up were significantly better than those at 3 months after operation which were significantly better than those before operation ( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the fixation of ankle fracture complicated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury, suture-button, AS and MS can all achieve definite clinical efficacy. As fixation with MS requires secondary surgical removal, its early functional score and pain score may be relatively poorer.