Surgery for painful flat feet
Often this condition can be managed without surgery. Orthotics such as arch supports and heel posts can change the shape of the foot, and offload tendons and joints. However, sometimes the joints have become rigid or arthritic, or the orthotics simply don't provide the necessary relief. That's where surgical treatments can help.
The flexible flat foot
If the foot is still supple, and the position of the foot can be corrected under gentle examination in clinic, then joint sparing procedures can help. These can involve cutting and realigning bones, transferring tendons and repairing ligaments.
The rigid flat foot
Occasionally, the condition has progressed in severity, arthritis may have developed in the joints, leading to pain. When arthritis is present, and the position of the foot cannot be corrected manually, a fusion operation may be recommended. This involves fusing three of the bigger joints around the back of the foot, restoring the normal shape and alignment. This is called a triple fusion.
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Recovery
The operation lasts 90-120 minutes. A plaster will be applied afterwards, and this will need to be changed to a new, light-weight one at two weeks. The total time in plaster is 6 weeks, followed by the use of a boot to start weight bearing after this. Injections or medicines to prevent blood clots are often required during the first 6 weeks at least.
Some patients like to rent a knee scooter to help with mobility when non-weight bearing. Alternatively, crutches can be used. X-rays are taken at 3 months to check that the joints are beginning to unite.
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The recovery from this procedure takes a 12-18 months for the swelling to resolve completely, and to realise the full benefit of the procedure, though a lot of patients do notice a significant improvement before this.
