Pes Cavus

A high-arched foot, referred to medically as pes cavus, is a foot in which there is a large opening of the inside of the foot when bearing weight. A high-arched foot is the opposite of flat feet, and is considerably less common than flat footedness.

Pes cavus may be an asymptomatic foot type, and may actually be beneficial in sports such as long distance running. The foot is fixed in a downward position, or plantar flexed, and is often quite rigid.

In the symptomatic patient, there may be difficulty in shoe fitting. Custom orthotic devices for the foot are often necessary, and children with high-arched feet may have difficulty walking. Some common complaints of symptomatic pes cavus patients include metatarsalgia, ankle instability, and corns and calluses of the feet where ill-fitting shoes may be rubbing.

The causes of pes cavus are as varied as people with the foot type. There is often no identifiable underlying cause, most commonly observed in the asymptomatic patient. There are a number of neurological disorders that can lead to pes cavus, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth, cerebral palsy, and multiple myeloma. Pes cavus may also be seen in some cases of diabetes and following stroke.

When being evaluated by your physician for pes cavus, there are a number of questions you may be asked. Some topics might be:

• Progression: Have your feet always had a high arch, or is it a new development?

• Location: Is the high arch on both feet? Is it noticeably higher on one side? Have you noticed any changes to your hands?

• Associated Symptoms: Have you had any burning, tingling, numbness or pain in the hands or feet? Have you recently been sick or been caring for an ill person? Have you had any previous injuries to the foot?

Generally, the treatment for high-arched feet is to accommodate any injuries, prevent further injuries with the use of orthoses, and to use properly fitting shoes. This conservative treatment is effective in most.

Surgical treatment is only used for severely symptomatic feet, and only after conservative treatment has failed. The goal of surgical treatment in pes cavus is to bring the foot flat to the ground, thus allowing for weight to be distributed evenly through the foot. A number of different surgical procedures and techniques exist, and each patient should be considered unique. Often there is a combination of soft tissue and bony procedures that are required, and a joint fusion (arthodesis) may be necessary for proper function.

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center, LLC.

101 6TH St. NW.

Winter Haven, Fl. 33881

863-299-4551

www.FLFootandAnkle.com