Radiographic measurements of the talus and calcaneus in the adult pes planus foot type

Abstract

Objective A distinctive feature of the modern human foot is the presence of a medial longitudinal arch when weight‐bearing. Although the talus and calcaneus play a major role in the structure and function of the human foot, the association between the morphology of these bones and longitudinal arch height has not been fully investigated. A better understanding of this relationship may assist in the interpretation of pedal remains of fossil hominins, where features of the foot and ankle morphology have been described as providing evidence for the presence of a longitudinal arch. Methods For this study, weight‐bearing radiographs of 103 patients from an urban US Level 1 trauma center, taken as part of a clinical examination for medical evaluation, were selected. These radiographs were classified as to foot type by arch height as defined using the calcaneal inclination angle. From this group, 68 radiographs were suitable for linear and angular measurements of the talus and 74 of the calcaneus. The relationships between these measurements and arch height were explored using least squared linear regression analysis. Results The results demonstrate that angular measurements of the calcaneus (particularly those that reflect the relationship of the talar articular facets to each other and the tilt of the calcaneocuboid joint to the longitudinal axis of the calcaneus) are predictive of arch height (r2 = .29–.44 p ≤ .001). All angular measurements of the talus and all examined linear measurements of both the talus and calcaneus were not predictive of arch height. Discussion These results suggest that certain angular measurements of the calcaneus are associated with arch height in the modern human foot. While this information is useful in the interpretation of hominin pedal remains, the relationship of the morphology of these bones, as well as other bones of the foot, to arch height is complex, requiring further investigation.

Calcaneus height is a key morphological factor of sprint performance in sprinters

“…In an additional analysis conducted in the present study, we similarly obtained a positive correlation of the ratio of the height to the length of the calcaneus with the foot arch height when non-weight-bearing (r = 0.294, P = 0.028). By contrast, in a study by Agoada and Kramer 30 , all variables, including the ratio of the height to the length, related to the height of the talus did not correlate with the foot arch height. Furthermore, the result of additional analysis in the present study showed a negative correlation of the ratio of the height to the length of the talus with the foot arch height (r = − 0.448, P = 0.001), suggesting that a taller talus may be a negative morphological factor for modeling a higher foot arch height.…”

“…The calcaneus and talus are known to be pivotal bones for foot arch formation 30 , 31 . The results of this study showed that although there were no correlations of absolute and relative heights of the talus with the foot arch height and its index, absolute and relative heights of the calcaneus correlated positively with the foot arch height and its index.…”

“…The results of this study showed that although there were no correlations of absolute and relative heights of the talus with the foot arch height and its index, absolute and relative heights of the calcaneus correlated positively with the foot arch height and its index. Using radiographs Agoada and Kramer 30 reported that in the course of weight-bearing, a taller calcaneus may be related to a higher foot arch height by showing a positive correlation of the ratio of the height relative to the length of the calcaneus with the foot arch height. In an additional analysis conducted in the present study, we similarly obtained a positive correlation of the ratio of the height to the length of the calcaneus with the foot arch height when non-weight-bearing (r = 0.294, P = 0.028).…”

Validity of a simple footprint assessment board for diagnosing the severity of flatfoot: a prospective cohort study

“…The navicular index values of these 2 ft were 7.32 and 6.76, and the scores in the simple footprint assessment board were 0.5 and 1, respectively. On the other hand, it has been reported that if calcaneal inclination angle is less than 18 degrees, flat feet are more likely [33]. These results for known cases of flatfoot suggest that the diagnosis of flatfoot is highly likely if the cord of the simple footprint assessment board either passes through the great toe or over its medial side.…”

“…On the other hand, the validity of this board for the diagnosis of flexible flatfoot, which is loss of the inner arch in a loaded condition and more common in children, could not be examined because non weight-bearing CT images were applied to measure the navicular index. However, the results of the tibiocalcaneal angle and calcaneal inclination angle were well-correlated with both weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing conditions [21,33]. Future research should be conducted with weight-bearing CT images for radiological evaluation to clarify the usefulness of simple tools like the simple footprint assessment board for diagnosis of flexible flatfoot.…”