Biomechanical assessment of two different surgical treatments for the correction of flat foot

Introduction The flat foot is a very frequent deformity in orthopedics and can be observed at different levels of severity already in childhood and infancy. The possible functional alterations associated with flat feet are not fully established. These can result in critical clinical consequences, such as secondary deformities of the forefoot and lower limb, pain and muscle fatigue. The prescription of orthotics or indication for surgical interventions are still much debated. A diagnosis based only on foot morphology is not sufficient to decide the therapeutic approach. In fact, the degree of severity of the deformity and the effects of treatments require also careful functional assessment. This study aims at investigating by means of movement analysis the effects of two different surgical treatments for severe flat foot.