Observational follow-up study of paediatric flexible flat feet.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Observational follow-up study of paediatric flexible flat feet age of 14-23.
IRAS ID
290584
Contact name
Julie Stebbins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics & Assurance Team.
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Flexible flat feet (FFF) are a subtype of flat feet where the arch is present on non-weightbearing and absent on weightbearing. Despite being the most common reason for paediatric consultations, there is no general consensus for FFF treatment. From the literature it is noted that children with FFF present with lower Quality of Life scores and higher Disability Index scores, irrespective of symptoms. The common complaints of foot pain, secondary joint pain and osteoarthritis in FFF extend into adulthood. Given these implications and the current lack of longitudinal data, we will conduct a follow-up of the baseline cohort -Defining surgical indications for children with flexible flatfeet., which included children with FFF. This will allow us to observe the long-term effects of FFF on quality of life and quantify the progress of childhood foot type and gait patterns into adulthood, and further explore the outcome of increased forefoot supination within FFF in relation to the midfoot.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NE/0228
Date of REC Opinion
9 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion