Pes Cavus Surgery
Trusted Surgical Care for Pes Cavus Pain
High arches or “pes cavus” is a condition where your arches are higher than normal, making fitting into shoes or exercising uncomfortable. These type of feet are generally poor shock absorbers and can lead to pain in the heel and ball of the foot, Achilles tendinitis, and shin splints. A complaint of “weak ankles” or frequent ankle sprains is commonly expressed by the patient. Runners have a hard time with this type of foot.
The cause of high arches is primarily due to genetic factors, however neurological reasons must always be ruled out. These neurological reasons include spinal cord issues, pinched nerves, stroke, cerebral palsy, or a disease known as Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT). High arches are frequently accompanied by hammertoes as well.
Most patients with high arches will never need surgery. Pes cavus is often succesfully treated with orthotics, supportive shoe gear, and activity modification.
When to consider surgery?
For those with debilitating pain caused by their high arches, surgery may be considered. Most patients have failed and exhausted all forms of conservative therapy at this stage.
If your pes cavus deformity is flexible and without any signs of arthritis your surgeon will perform osteotomies in multiple foot bones, typically in the heel bone, midfoot bones, and medial column foot bones. These bone cuts help realign different joints and correct your high arches. In addition ankle ligaments are frequently reconstructed in order to return stability to the ankle joint.
For those who have a more advanced condition and who have developed arthritis caused by untreated symptomatic pes cavus your surgeon will perform corrective bone fusions in order to realign the foot and relieve the arthritic pain.