Flat foot, or fallen arches, is a condition characterized by a lack of arch at the bottom of the foot. Flat foot occurs when tendons that hold the joints of the foot together are loose, flattening the area where you would normally have an arch. People with flat feet experience the soles of their feet completely touching the floor when they stand and walk.
Being flat footed is common in infants and toddlers. As a baby grows over time, the tendons in the feet strengthen, helping to form a normal arch in the foot. But in some children, an arch never develops properly, which causes various problems.
In adults, flat feet may develop later as a result of an injury or wear and tear due to aging.
Flat foot pain can worsen with prolonged standing or activity. Symptoms include:
Foot pain (most prevalent in the heel and arch area)
Leg pain
Back pain
Swelling of the feet and ankles
Flat foot surgery typically involves the repair of loose tendons or realigning the bones in the foot.
Depending on the severity of your condition, we may perform a combination of the following surgeries to treat flat feet:
Arthrodesis: Arthrodesis is another name for joint fusion surgery. By eliminating the space between the bones that would allow painful movement, fusing the bones in the foot together relieves the pain. To ensure the bones heal properly together, we also may do bone grafting, a surgical procedure that uses transplanted bone to repair damaged bones.
Foot bone reconstruction surgery: Involves bone grafting and tendon transfer to create a new arch.
Dorsal opening wedge osteotomy: A bone wedge or bone graft is placed at the top of the medial cuneiform bone located in the middle of the foot.
