FOOT PRESSURE MEASURMENT AND MAPPING, IN A CASE SERIES ASSESSMENT FOR DIAGNOSING AND TREATING ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT ABNORMALITIES.

Abstract

Introduction: The study that measures the existing elds of pressure between a surface that is used to support, and foot surface that is plantar, is called Pedobarography. It has important applications in the analysis of Gait and other Foot Health problems. The requirement of foot pressure measurement sensors, are that they must have mobility with limited cabling. Materials And Methods: This was a prospective study done as an outpatient procedure at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu, from January 2019 to December 2019, for foot related ailments of outpatients presenting in the Department of Orthopaedics. The foot mapping was done by standard static mapping and gait analytical mapping systems. The ndings were recorded and analyzed by a computer and the patients were prescribed custom made foot-wear. Results: 945 cases were included in the study of which 575 patients had foot related orthopaedic pain pathology in the age group of 28 to 57years. Only for the 170 patients in the plantar fasciitis group was Hydrocortisone Injection administered. Remaining foot pathologies were treated with wax bath and ultrasound therapy. For the neurological foot pain segment comprising of 114 patients, neurologist consultation was sought, of which 36 cases turned out to be, due to lumbar canal stenosis and were surgically intervened upon. Of the 208 patients with Achilles tendonitis, 165 patients resolved with a heel and sole raise, with physiotherapy and the remaining 43 patient required spur and bursal surgical exploration and excision. Conclusion: Plantar foot pressure mapping, should be an integral part of the list of investigations, while trying to diagnose and treat the problems related to foot abnormalities and pathologies.