STARBENE TALKS ABOUT IT ON MAURIZIO DE PELLEGRIN – CHILDREN’S ORTHOPEDIST AT LITTLE DAUGHTERS HOSPITAL
Flat feet: what are they and when are they a problem?
In most cases, especially in children, flat feet are not a cause for concern. Dr. Maurizio De Pellegrin, pediatric orthopedist at Piccole Figlie Hospital in Parma, reassures,“We are all born with feet that are more or less flat, because nature sees them as a more stable support for the first steps. Between about age 5 and 10, however, the plantar vault develops spontaneously, forming the arch we all know.”
When to worry? The signs not to be underestimated
Around age 12, the foot should have completed its transformation. If it remains flat, a minimally invasive surgery called subastragalic arthrorisis may be necessary. A small cut, a screw in the calcaneus for three years and the foot will be in axis, free from unnatural movement.
But why do some feet remain flat? Dr. De Pellegrin explains that the main cause is congenital ligamentous laxity, or ligaments that are more elastic than normal. In some cases, flat feet may be associated with a congenital disorder called tarsal synostosis, which involves the fusion of two bones in the foot. In this case, surgery is necessary to separate the bones and correct the deformity.
A new minimally invasive surgery: hope for flat feet
Dr. De Pellegrin has developed a new minimally invasive surgery that can correct both tarsal synostosis and flatfoot in a single operation. This is excellent news for children who suffer from this condition and who will be able to avoid heavier surgeries in the future.
