Re: What exactly is dorsiflexion?

[Guest guest]

Others can get technical with you but in general terms, Dorsiflexion refers to

the foot's upwards and downward's motion...like tipping your toes up towards

your shin bone (which stretches your achelies tendon). The dr. wants a certain

minimum degree of upwards motion (15 degrees?), and if your child cannot manage

that, he will have the tenotomy to allow the foot to move that direction freely,

which of course is necessary for running, squatting, general activity later on.

s.

What exactly is dorsiflexion?

Hi All,

I hope all is well with each and every one of you and your little

ones.

Can anyone explain to me what dorsiflexion is and what

determines " good " dorsiflexion? We're about 2-3 casts away from the

tenotomy (if it is deemed necessary) and I just like to be ahead of

the game in being educated on what the doctors are diagnosing. -

J'nee's feet were very flexible from birth and become more so with

every casting. So, I'm kinda hoping we won't have to do the tenotomy

and can go right into the bracing. But, this, of course, will be left

up to our doctor's expert prognosis.

Thanks in advance!

mommy to -J'nee, bcf, born 01.07.06

[Guest guest]

,

Below is a (rather technical) explanation on the decision to perform

the tenotomy from the Global Health booklet. The tenotomy ends up

being needed about 85 percent of the time.

Dorsiflexion is the movement of the front part of the foot upward --

heel staying down, toes going up, stretching the achilles in the

process.

.................

" A major decision point in management is determining when sufficient

correction has been obtained to perform a percutaneous

tenotomy to gain dorsiflexion and to complete the treatment.

This point is reached when the anterior calcaneus can be abducted

from underneath the talus. This abduction allows the foot to be

safely dorsiflexed without crushing the talus between the calcaneus

and tibia [E]. If the adequacy of abduction is uncertain,

apply another cast or two to be certain.

Characteristics of adequate abduction

Confirm that the foot is sufficiently abducted to safely bring the

foot into 15 to 20 degrees of dorsiflexion before performing tenotomy.

The best sign of sufficient abduction is the ability to palpate the

anterior process of the calcaneus as it abducts out from beneath

the talus.

Abduction of approximately 60 degrees in relationship to the frontal

plane of the tibia is possible.

Neutral or slight valgus of os calcis is present. This is determined

by palpating the posterior os calcis.

Remember that this is a three-dimensional deformity and that these

deformities are corrected together. The correction is accomplished by

abducting the foot under the head of the talus. "

http://www.global-help.org/publications/cf-english.pdf

..................

Best wishes.

>

> Hi All,

>

> I hope all is well with each and every one of you and your little

> ones.

>

> Can anyone explain to me what dorsiflexion is and what

> determines " good " dorsiflexion? We're about 2-3 casts away from

the

> tenotomy (if it is deemed necessary) and I just like to be ahead of

> the game in being educated on what the doctors are diagnosing.

-

> J'nee's feet were very flexible from birth and become more so with

> every casting. So, I'm kinda hoping we won't have to do the

tenotomy

> and can go right into the bracing. But, this, of course, will be

left

> up to our doctor's expert prognosis.

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

>

> mommy to -J'nee, bcf, born 01.07.06

>