Modeling of a clinical instrumental system for the objective assessment of foot function in patients with post-traumatic ankle deformity and calcaneal malunion

BACKGROUND: The change foot gait after surgical treatment on the ankle and foot is associated with the development of biomechanically caused complications. The results of surgical treatment depend on the correct assessment of the anatomical and functional features of the foot. Clinical analysis foot gait was performed using “F-Scan Mobile”.

AIM: To evaluate the biomechanical parameters of walking in patients with ankle and foot deformities, before and after surgical treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the department № 4 in the Center Traumatology and Orthopedics (Moscow), between 2022–2024, a single-center prospective, non-randomized cohort controlled experimental quantitative study was conducted. 102 patients with ankle arthrosis and post-traumatic deformity of the calcaneus were surgically treated, 68 of them men and 34 women, the average age was 39±17,61 years. The patients underwent a biomechanical assessment of the functional parameters of the foot.

RESULTS: The average VASH score before surgery was 6,5±3,63, after surgery 1,6±0,81, there was a significant decrease in pain syndrome (р <0,05). The average hind foot AOFAS scale before surgery was 38±23,31, after surgery 88±10,55, there was also an improvement (р <0,05). Subjective assessment of treatment results: 56 patients (54.9%) excellent result, 30 patients (29.4%) good, 14 patients (13.7%) satisfactory, 2 patients (1.9%) rated the result of treatment as unsatisfactory.

CONCLUSION: The developed clinical model of biomechanical assessment of walking parameters allows us to obtain objective data on the structure of the step cycle in unilateral foot injury and assess the adequacy of adaptive motor skill in patients before/after surgical treatment and in the long-term observation period. The patients were satisfied with the result of the treatment, which was confirmed not only clinically, but also by biomechanical research.