Adult acquired flatfoot or posterior tibial tendon dysfunction usually leads to a gradual loss of the arch. The posterior tibial muscle is a deep muscle in the back of the calf and has a long tendon that extends from above the ankle and attaches into several sites around the arch of the foot. The muscle acts like a stirrup on the inside of the foot to help support the arch. The posterior tibial muscle stabilizes the arch and creates a rigid platform for walking and running. If the posterior tibial tendon becomes damaged or tears, the arch loses its stability and as a result, collapses, causing a flatfoot.
Surgery is often performed to give the patient a more functional and stable foot. Several procedures may be required to correct a flatfoot deformity.
Surgical treatment can include the following kinds of procedures, depending on the severity of the problem:
- Removal of inflammatory tissue and repair of the posterior tibial tendon.
- Isolated bone fusion procedures, bone grafts, and/or repositioning bones through cuts called osteotomies.
- Fusion procedures such as a triple or double arthrodesis, in which two or three major bones in the back of the foot are joined with screws or pins.
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