FOOT AND ANKLE
Conditions Diagnosed & Treated
Below is an outline of some of the major paediatric orthopaedics disorders that we specialise in, but typically most paediatric orthopaedic conditions that warrant a specialist referral can be successfully investigated through our team. If your child is suffering from any orthopaedic or sport issue and are looking for definitive medical support then please let us know.
Common Paediatric Conditions
Abnormal gait / foot position
-
Tip toeing is a common behaviour in children when they walk on their toes, which may be normal in younger kids but can sometimes indicate an underlying issue if it persists.
-
In toeing, often caused by femoral anteversion, is a condition where the feet turn inward when walking, and it is common in paediatric patients.
-
Out toeing can result from conditions like tibial torsion or metatarsus adductus in children, causing the feet to point outward when walking.
Clubfoot / CTEV – Congenital Talipes Equino Varus
- Antenatal diagnosis refers to the detection of clubfoot in a baby before birth, allowing for early planning and intervention.
- Ponseti Treatment involves a non-surgical approach for clubfoot correction in infants, primarily utilising casting techniques.
- Recurrent clubfoot may require a combination of casting and surgical procedures in paediatric patients to address the condition effectively.
Apophysis Injuries
- Sever’s Disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, is a common condition in children characterised by heel pain due to inflammation of the growth plate in the heel bone.
- The fifth metatarsal is one of the long bones in the foot, and injuries to this bone, particularly at the base, can occur in paediatric patients, leading to conditions like fractures or stress fractures.
Pes Planus / Flat feet
Pes Planus, commonly known as flat feet, is a condition in paediatric patients where the arches of the feet are flattened, causing the entire sole to come into contact with the ground.
Metatarsus Adductus
Metatarsus Adductus is a condition in paediatric patients where the front part of the foot (metatarsals) is turned inward, causing the foot to appear curved or “C-shaped.”
Fractures and Dislocations
Salter Harris fractures or growth plate injuries
Salter-Harris fractures are injuries to the growth plate area of a child’s bone and are categorised into five types, each varying in severity and impact on future bone growth.
Triplane fractures
Triplane fractures in paediatric patients involve fractures of the distal tibia that can affect multiple planes of the bone, typically occurring in adolescents.
Ankle
Ankle injuries in paediatric patients may involve the distal fibula and can result from various causes, including sports-related activities or accidents.
Metatarsal stress fractures
Metatarsal stress fractures are common in paediatric patients, particularly in athletes, and involve small cracks in the metatarsal bones of the foot.
Toe fractures
Toe fractures can occur in paediatric patients due to trauma or accidents, leading to pain, swelling, and limited mobility in the affected toe.
Avulsion Injuries
Medial and lateral
Medial and lateral refer to the inner (medial) and outer (lateral) sides of the foot and ankle in paediatric patients.
Tarsal bone
Tarsal bones are the bones of the midfoot and hindfoot, including the calcaneus (heel bone), talus, navicular, cuboid, and cuneiform bones, which collectively contribute to the foot’s structure and function in children.
Ligament Injuries
Lateral ligament complex injuries
Lateral ligament complex injuries in paediatric patients involve damage to the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle and can result from sprains or trauma.
Deltoid ligament
The deltoid ligament is a strong ligament on the inner side of the ankle, providing stability to the joint in paediatric patients.
Tendon Injuries
Calf tightness
Calf tightness can be a common issue in paediatric patients, causing discomfort and limiting mobility in the lower leg muscles.
Sesamoiditis
Sesamoiditis is a condition in which the sesamoid bones in the foot become inflamed, leading to pain and tenderness, often seen in children.
Achilles tendinopathy
Achilles tendinopathy refers to injuries or inflammation of the Achilles tendon in paediatric patients, which can cause pain and discomfort in the back of the ankle.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition involving inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue on the sole of the foot, leading to heel pain in children.
Cartilage INJURIES
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Osteochondritis Dissecans is a joint condition seen in paediatric patients, where a piece of bone and cartilage becomes detached from the joint surface, causing pain and limited joint movement.
Osteochondral Defects
Osteochondral Defects refer to areas of damaged or missing cartilage and underlying bone in joints, which can impact joint function and may require treatment in children.
Accessory bones
Os navicular
Os navicular is a small bone in the foot, commonly known as the navicular bone, which plays a role in the foot’s structure and function in paediatric patients.
Os Trigonum
Os Trigonum is an accessory bone sometimes found in the foot that can cause pain and discomfort in children if it doesn’t fuse properly with other bones.
Os peroneum
Os peroneum is a small bone in the foot, located within the peroneus longus tendon, and can be a source of pain or injury in paediatric patients.
Foot shape deformities
Pes planus
Pes planus, also known as flat foot, is a condition where the arches of the feet in children are flattened, causing the entire sole to come into contact with the ground.
Tarsal Coalitions
Tarsal Coalitions are abnormal fusions of two or more tarsal bones in the foot, leading to limited foot movement and pain in paediatric patients.
Pes cavus
Pes cavus is a condition in children where the foot has a high arch, potentially causing stability and balance issues.
Toe deformities
Bunion
Bunion, also known as Hallux Valgus, is a deformity of the big toe joint, often causing a painful lump on the side of the foot in paediatric patients.
Hallux varus
Hallux varus is a deformity of the big toe that causes it to point inward, affecting the alignment of the toe in children.
Bunionettes
Bunionettes are similar to bunions but occur on the outside of the foot at the base of the fifth toe, leading to discomfort in paediatric patients.
Hammer toe
Hammer toe is a deformity of the toe joints in children, causing them to bend abnormally, resembling a hammer.
Mallet toe
Mallet toe is a deformity of the toe joint in children, causing the toe to bend downward at the end joint.
Curly toes
Curly toes refer to a condition where the toes are twisted or curled inwards, affecting their alignment in paediatric patients.
Clinodactyly, Syndactyly, and Polydactyly
Clinodactyly, Syndactyly, and Polydactyly are congenital conditions involving finger or toe abnormalities such as curved digits, fused digits, or extra digits in children.
Nail disorders including ingrowing nail
Nail Disorders
Nail disorders, including ingrown nails, can affect the health and appearance of children’s nails.
Freibergs infraction
Freiberg's Infraction
Freiberg’s Infraction is a condition that can lead to damage in the metatarsal head of the foot, often causing pain and discomfort in paediatric patients.
What some of our patients say
Mrs EL
Thank you for taking great care of me throughout the whole operation process! My recovery has been much faster than anticipated and I am pain free after such a long time!