Subtle cavus foot

Abstract

Objective: To identify the prevalence of ankle and foot disorders in patients with subtle cavus foot (SCF). Methods: This was a retrospective case series. Patients with lower limb disorders who upon clinical examination were also diagnosed with SCF were evaluated. Patients diagnosed with disorders that could lead to this deformity, such as trauma sequelae and neurological disorders, and those with the presence of cavovarus foot with severe deformity were excluded. Correlations between ankle and foot disorders and the presence of SCF were evaluated. Results: A total of 119 patients (67 males/52 females) were evaluated, totalling 238 feet. One hundred forty-one feet had subtle cavus, and 97 feet had physiological alignment. Of the 141 SCF, 76 feet were right feet, and 65 were left feet. Twenty-two patients had bilateral SCF. One undred forty complaints were identified, which led to 18 diagnoses: ankle instability (37 cases/26.2%), peroneal tendon tendinopathy (31 cases/22.0%), plantar fasciitis (18 cases/12.8%), Achilles tendon tendinopathy (10 cases/7.1%), osteochondral talar lesion (7 cases/5.0%), mechanical metatarsalgia (6 cases/4.3%), hallux sesamoid disorders (5 cases/3.5%), Morton’s neuroma (5 cases/3.5%), hallux valgus (5 cases/3.5%), pain in the lateral side of the foot (4 cases/2.8%), anterior impact (3 cases/2.1%), pain in the medial side of the tibia (2 cases/1.4%), plantar plate injury (2 cases/1.4%) and other disorders with a prevalence <1%. Conclusion: We found a clear correlation between SCF and acute and chronic ankle instability, peroneal and Achilles tendon tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis.  Level of Evidence IV; Therapeutic Studies; Case Series.