Flat feet can also be referred to as pes plannus, pes planovalgus, valgo plannus, or pronation syndrome. It is commonly described as a foot without and arch. Flexible and Rigid flatfoot are the two basic forms. A flat foot is rigid when the arch appears flat when the child is sitting and when the child is standing. The flexible flatfoot is when the foot appears normal when the child is sitting, but the arch collapses when the child bears any weight on the foot. The flexible form is less severe and much more common.
Flatfoot is normal in children under three years old. Young children are very flexible and will appear to have flat feet. It is normal for the child’s foot to appear as it is rolled in and pointing outward until they past their toddler years. You may need to see a podiatrist if you child still appears flat as they near the age to attend school.
The podiatrist will evaluate the entire lower extremity to determine if the child is experiencing any weakness or pain. The child may complain of pain in the foot, ankle or the knee. The child may also have a history of clumsiness, or a voluntary decrease in activity. The doctor will take x-rays to evaluate the joints and alignment of the bones.
A tight calf is a common finding in all flatfoot patients. This may be a significant component to the patient’s present and future pain. Thus, it is common for children to undergo physical therapy to learn stretches and exercises that target the calf muscles.
The gold standard in treating flatfoot is orthotic therapy. Orthoses are custom made shoe inserts that assist in foot function. Since the orthoses are custom made, they are design to address the child’s specific foot structure and associated problems. These devices will help prevent the flatfoot from progressing and decrease the current pain that the child is experiencing.
Surgery is a treatment of last resort. In rare cases, a child will continue to have pain or disabling fatigue after all conservative treatments are attempted. Surgery is invasive and often unnecessary to control flatfoot pain, so it is not attempted until the doctor and parent have exhausted all other treatment options.
In these severe cases, where the child’s flat foot is flexible, an implant can be placed in the rear part of the foot. One type of implants is the Hyprocure. The procedure takes only seven minutes and is made with a tiny incision. The implant causes an immediate arch and rarely needs to be removed. This procedure is done in children with severe pain in the arch or where the arch is so collapsed it will lead to an arthritic condition when they get older.
Many parents worry about their children’s flat feet, but in most cases the children grow out of them by the time they reach kindergarten. At this age, we begin to worry that the child may actually have a flatfoot. Generally these feet are easily managed and the child can have a normal and active life with no limitations. Be aware of children’s feet and their pain. It is common for children to fall and cry, but it is not common for a child to have foot pain or fatigue. It is always better to treat the flat foot immediately on a conservative basis because once they reach the age of three it might be very difficult to correct.
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Child Limping May Be Sign of Bone Infection
We have all had are falls and bruises. It is part of growing up. My boys are constantly horsing around upstairs, downstairs, outside, and inside. It is impossible to keep my eye on them 24/7. Sometimes they fall and sometimes they get hurt. But sometimes your child’s pain is more than just an ouchy from clowning around. Is your child limping and complaining of pain? Could your child be at risk of a bone infection?
Our bodies are constantly fighting off infection. Every time we take a breath, we are breathing in pathogens. We are coved in bacteria! Our immune system keeps these bacteria in check so there are not too many pathogens that will cause damage to the surrounding tissues. It is hard to believe but there is not one individual on earth that is bacteria free. You can use as much antibacterial soap available but there will always be something growing on you. How does this turn into an infection or disease?
Bacteria can sometime out power our immune system and grow out of control. This damages the tissues and creates an illness. Thus, we use antibiotics to help assist our immune system in the battle against bacteria. Children have an over abundance of blood vessels because of their high demand for nutrients for growing. Children, especially those under the age six, have more blood vessels in the bones. These vessels twist and turn and bacteria flowing through can sometimes get caught up, congregate, and begin an infection that kills bone. Imagine a windy river or creek. Some parts look crystal clear but in other areas twigs, moss and algae build up on the banks. Because of the way the water flows, some areas have rapids and others are a bit stagnant. The same happen with our blood flow and as long as our immune system constantly cleans up the mess there are no problems.
About 1/5,000 children suffer from a bone infection or osteomyelitis because the bacteria count becomes too high in the bone that the immune system cannot control the rising numbers. Children will complain of aches, pains in a generalized area of the infection. Children will also guard their pain by avoiding certain movements that aggravate them. When the infection is in the legs or feet, the child will often limp to avoid pain. Some infections are obvious from a puncture wound, but some just happen with no apparent injury because of the child’s intricate vessel system being overwhelmed.
When caught early, the infection will cause little damage, but the symptoms develop very slowly and thus medical attention is often not reached until the infection has become more sever. The infection can spread to joints and cause arthritis. If the infection causes severe damage to the growth plate it can cause deformities and underdevelopment. Though these are possible outcomes, it is often that the body walls off the infection and does not allow it to spread. To fight off the infection our body will need the assistance of appropriate antibiotics. Occasionally, the body needs even more help, and surgical removal or reduction of the infection is necessary.
Though osteomyelitis is rare, it is a possible. Thus, it is important to listen to your child when they are complaining of pain. Do they remember falling or getting hurt? Do they have fever? Are they irritable and unable to sleep well? Children are always whining, but sometimes the whines are important and need medical attention.
Our bodies are constantly fighting off infection. Every time we take a breath, we are breathing in pathogens. We are coved in bacteria! Our immune system keeps these bacteria in check so there are not too many pathogens that will cause damage to the surrounding tissues. It is hard to believe but there is not one individual on earth that is bacteria free. You can use as much antibacterial soap available but there will always be something growing on you. How does this turn into an infection or disease?
Bacteria can sometime out power our immune system and grow out of control. This damages the tissues and creates an illness. Thus, we use antibiotics to help assist our immune system in the battle against bacteria. Children have an over abundance of blood vessels because of their high demand for nutrients for growing. Children, especially those under the age six, have more blood vessels in the bones. These vessels twist and turn and bacteria flowing through can sometimes get caught up, congregate, and begin an infection that kills bone. Imagine a windy river or creek. Some parts look crystal clear but in other areas twigs, moss and algae build up on the banks. Because of the way the water flows, some areas have rapids and others are a bit stagnant. The same happen with our blood flow and as long as our immune system constantly cleans up the mess there are no problems.
About 1/5,000 children suffer from a bone infection or osteomyelitis because the bacteria count becomes too high in the bone that the immune system cannot control the rising numbers. Children will complain of aches, pains in a generalized area of the infection. Children will also guard their pain by avoiding certain movements that aggravate them. When the infection is in the legs or feet, the child will often limp to avoid pain. Some infections are obvious from a puncture wound, but some just happen with no apparent injury because of the child’s intricate vessel system being overwhelmed.
When caught early, the infection will cause little damage, but the symptoms develop very slowly and thus medical attention is often not reached until the infection has become more sever. The infection can spread to joints and cause arthritis. If the infection causes severe damage to the growth plate it can cause deformities and underdevelopment. Though these are possible outcomes, it is often that the body walls off the infection and does not allow it to spread. To fight off the infection our body will need the assistance of appropriate antibiotics. Occasionally, the body needs even more help, and surgical removal or reduction of the infection is necessary.
Though osteomyelitis is rare, it is a possible. Thus, it is important to listen to your child when they are complaining of pain. Do they remember falling or getting hurt? Do they have fever? Are they irritable and unable to sleep well? Children are always whining, but sometimes the whines are important and need medical attention.