Epidemiologia del piede piatto e cavo nell'adolescenza.

Epidemiology of flat and cavus foot in adolescents.Clinical and podoscopic examinations were performed in 320 subjects aged 11 to 14 years (index subjects) and 88 couples of parents of the index subjects. Overall, flat or cavus foot was found, respectively, in 13% and 18% of the index subjects, without significant differences between the various age groups. The foot deformity was severe in 6% of the subjects with flat foot and in 13% of those with cavus foot. Genu valgum was found in 16% of the index subjects with flat foot. The body weight was above normal values in 55% of the subjects with flat foot and below normal values in 41 % of those with cavus foot. The incidence of flat or cavus foot was significantly higher in the parents of the index subjects with flat or cavus foot, respectively, than in the parents of the subjects with normal foot. The results of this study, compared with those of a previous study in subjects aged 4 to 10 years, indicates that, with increasing age, the overall incidence of flat or cavus foot remains stable,while the percentage of severe flat foot decreases significantly. There is a significant relationship between body weight and both foot deformities. A marked familiar predisposition also exists to flat or cavus foot.