To explore the therapeutic effect of application of orthosis after HyProCure tarsal sinus screw internal fixation on adolescent patients with flatfoot.

A retrospective study was conducted on 106 patients with flatfoot who were treated in Shangjin Hospital, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from July 2022 to July 2024. Inclusion criteria: age≤18 years old, complete clinical data, no history of surgery, imaging diagnosis of flatfoot (arch disappearance, scaphoid protrusion and heel valgus when standing) and repeated plantar/arch pain. Exclusion criteria: spinal disease, neuromuscular disease, severe osteoarthritis, immune system disease or signs of foot infection. According to the treatment methods, the enrolled patients were divided into operation group (n=52) and combination group (n=54). The operation group accepted HyProCure tarsal sinus screw internal fixation, while the combination group accepted orthosis at three weeks after HyProCure tarsal sinus screw internal fixation. The clinical efficacy as well as lower limb balance status, plantar pressure and imaging measurement indicators before and after treatment were compared between both groups by chi square test and t test.

The total clinical effective rate in the combination group was higher than that in the operation group (χ²=5.075, P<0.05). After treatment, compared with the operation group, the posterior ankle joint-hind foot function score in the combination group was higher (t=5.620, P<0.05). After treatment, the height of the first tarsometatarsal joint and calcaneal inclination angle (Pitch angle) in the combination group were higher than those in the operation group, and the first metatarsal angle (Meary angle) was smaller than that in the operation group (t=3.234, 6.666, 12.041, all P<0.05). The maximum plantar pressure and average plantar pressure in the combination group after treatment were lower than those in the operation group (t=6.568, 6.984, both P<0.05).

Orthosis application at three weeks after HyProCure tarsal sinus screw internal fixation in the treatment of adolescent flatfoot can enhance the clinical efficacy and lower limb balance, and improve the foot structure and plantar pressure of adolescent flatfoot.