New opportunities to correct equvinus foot deformity in orthopedic-traumatological practice

Aim. To prove the efficiency of using a new variant of leg tutor for correction of locomotor system pathology in treatment of equvinus foot deformity.

Materials and methods. A mean age of 23 patients with hemiparesis and equvinus foot deformity was 42.5 years. Tonus and strength of legs was assessed. Angulometric and stabilometric studies were realized.

Results. The developed model of leg tutor was used. To eliminate equvinus foot deformity, hyperextension of the knee joint was gradually eliminated using individual choice of the heel form and height, thus strengthening a quadriceps muscle of the thigh. The knee joint stability increased, the intensity of pain syndrome reduced. Arthropathies and deformities of the knee joint were prevented. Innovation of the developed model is the following: a soft glue-based responsive side of textile band “Contact” “Velcro” was stably fixed to the outside surface of posterior third of the plantar part of tutor sleeve. To the responsive side of a textile band, there were fixed removable heel pads (heels from microporous rubber of different height (from 5 to 25 mm) with a responsive hard (with hooks) part of textile band “Contact” “Velcro”). Tutor provided the ability to move and guaranteed stable holding of the extremity segments in the posterior position. There was observed a positive dynamics of changes in the muscular tonus of paralyzed leg.

Conclusions. The developed tutor model can be used in orthopedic-traumatological practice to correct equvinus foot deformity; the model efficiency is confirmed by clinical and stabilometric parameters.