Painful Flatfoot Exciting Minimally Invasive Treatment For Flatfoot and Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Spur Syndrome

By Burton J. Katzen, DPM

Metro Foot Care Centers

. http://www.marylandfootdoctor.com

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Painful Flatfoot Exciting Minimally Invasive Treatment For Flatfoot and Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Spur Syndrome

Hyperpronation is a common condition of excessive motion of the rear foot, causing the appearance of a collapsed arch upon weight bearing. This motion leads to foot deformity and potentially knee, hip, and back problems. It occurs with every step a person takes and eventually leads to damage to the musculoskeletal system. This is why most people develop lower extremity symptoms by middle age or earlier depending on the degree of deformity.

In other words, if your feet are out of alignment, sooner or later the effects will be felt.

Hyperpronation is present at the time of birth, and the age of onset of the symptoms depends on the degree of deformity. A child with a flatfoot may develop so called “growing pains” which is caused by abnormal excessive activity of the leg muscles required to propel the foot during normal ambulation.

Common symptoms in children with excessive hyperpronation may include

Growing pains

Flattened arch

Out-toe walking

Tip-toe walking

Early onset of structural deformities such as bunions and hammertoes

Abnormal shoe wear patterns

Always wanting to be carried

Poor posture

Knee, hip, back, neck problems

Inactive child or slow runner

Adult symptoms may include

Foot deformities (bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown toenails)

Painful heels or arches (plantar fasciitis/heel spur syndrome)

Ankle pain or recurrent sprains

Leg pains (shin splints, cramping, night cramps)

Knee, hip, pelvis, back and neck pain

Treatment Options

You should not wait to have pain or deformities to treat hyperpronation. As with any other deformity, the sooner treatment is initiated the better the outcome. Oral medications do not address the underlying deformity, which is excessive motion of the ankle bone (talus) on the heel bone (calcaneus).

Historically, arch supports have been the gold standard in treating abnormal foot motion. This type of treatment has been very successful in preventing the abnormal motion, but do not address the underlying internal cause of the deformity to afford a permanent cure. The other disadvantage of arch supports is that they will limit the shoes you may wear (no sandals or high heels) and when you are not wearing the supports, you will not be getting any correction of the deformity or relief of symptoms (when you are barefoot).

Correction of Hyperpronation By HyProCure Stent

An exciting minimally invasive inoffice procedure for permanently correcting hyperpronation, subtalar arthroereisis is a viable in-office treatment option for anyone over the age of three years. The procedure involves placing a small medical grade titanium stent (HyProCure). This acts as an internal orthotic to prevent the abnormal motion between the bones of the foot, which causes the arch to flatten.

The titanium is tolerated by the body without ill-effects. It is specifically designed to fit securely into the sinus tarsi without any type off internal fixation (ex. screws, pins, etc.). It does not deteriorate over time or set of a metal detector. It is stronger than bone.

The procedure takes approximately 10-15 minutes and is performed through a small inch incision on the outside of the foot in an office or outpatient ambulatory center. It may be performed under local anesthesia or local anesthesia with light I.V. sedation. Also, since no boney structures are being disturbed, the procedure is totally reversible.

Post-operatively, little pain medication is usually required. Partial weight bearing is allowed the day after surgery, and patients may return to shoes as tolerated usually four or five days after surgery. Sports activities can be increased to tolerance four weeks after surgery. Usually, orthotics are no longer necessary following the procedure.