Library
- What is a Podiatrist?
- When To Call a Doctor
- Foot Anatomy
- Overview of Foot and Ankle Problems
- Basic Foot Care Guidelines
- Foot Problems
- General Statistics
- Achilles Problems
- Ankle Problems
- Arch and Ball Problems
- Common Foot Injuries
- Deformities
- Amniotic Band Syndrome
- Bunions
- Claw Toe
- Clubfoot
- Dysplasia (Epiphysealis Hemimelica)
- Enchondroma
- Flat Feet
- Gordon Syndrome
- Haglund's Deformity
- Hallux Limitus (Stiff Big Toe Joint)
- Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)
- Hallux Varus
- Hammertoes
- Jackson-Weiss Syndrome
- Mallet Toes
- Metatarsalgia
- Osteomyelitis (Bone Infections)
- Overlapping or Underlapping Toes
- Peroneal Tendon Dislocation/Dysfunction
- Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
- Sesamoiditis
- Spurs
- Tarsal Coalition
- Diabetes and Your Feet
- Diseases of the Foot
- Fungus Problems
- Heel Problems
- Nail Problems
- Skin Problems
- Toe Problems
- Vascular/Nerve Problems
- Medical Care
- Fitness and Your Feet
- Foot Care
- Basic Foot Care Guidelines
- Athletic Foot Care
- Blisters
- Children's Feet
- Corns and Calluses
- Diabetic Foot Care
- Foot Care For Seniors
- Foot Self-Exam
- Pedicures
- Self-Assessment Quiz
- Women's Feet
- Your Feet at Work
- Bunion Prevention
- Burning Feet
- Fungus Problems
- Ingrown Nails
- Osteoporosis
- Foot Odor and Smelly Feet
- Shoes
- Links
Adult-acquired flatfoot or posterior tibial tendon dysfunction usually leads to a gradual loss of the arch. The posterior tibial muscle is a deep muscle in the back of the calf and has a long tendon that extends from above the ankle and attaches into several sites around the arch of the foot. The muscle acts like a stirrup on the inside of the foot to help support the arch. The posterior tibial muscle stabilizes the arch and creates a rigid platform for walking and running. If the posterior tibial tendon becomes damaged or tears, the arch loses its stability and as a result, collapses, causing a flatfoot.
Surgery is often performed to give the patient a more functional and stable foot. Several procedures may be required to correct a flatfoot deformity, depending on the severity of the problem. These may include:
- Tenosynovectomy—a procedure to clean away (debridement) and remove any of the inflamed tissue around the tendon.
- Osteotomy—removal of a portion of the heel bone (calcaneus) to move the foot structure back into alignment.
- Tendon Transfer—in which replacement fibers from another tendon are inserted to help repair damage.
- Lateral Column Lengthening—A procedure that implants a small piece of bone, usually removed from the hip, outside of the heel bone to create the proper bone alignment and rebuild the arch.
- Arthrodesis—Fusing of one or more bones together to eliminate any joint movement, which stabilizes the foot and prevents any further deterioration or damage.