Miss Supple's new foot with the Hyprocure™
Subtalar arthroeresis is hard to spell but is the procedure I now fully advocate to be considered for those of us with hyperpronation or supple feet!
I have always had wobbly, supple feet and have had to wear high heels just to keep me stable. This is because the arches of my feet have always been hypermobile and hyperpronated.
The older I get, and after three babies, I was starting to get the laundry list of complaints associated with an unstable base; Knee pains, shin splints, early signs of twisting in the big toe joint, a tendency to have numbness in toes if wore too tight shoes. Toes starting to stay misshapen, hard skin forming under the balls of my feet. How lucky to have found a career in feet! I have never been able to run well, have always been a better swimmer and was starting to notice more leg and foot problems.
Over time the ability to flex yourself out of this over- extended position is gradually lost. Hence this is why older people have more trouble with their feet as eventually poor foot position leads to problem biomechanics. Rather like a car and tyres, eventually they will wear out in an uneven manner if the line of travel is impaired.
The surgical correction available is for severe cases and consists of tendons, ligaments and bones being cut and moved and relocated. In worst cases the most reliable surgery is a triple arthrodesis where all the bones in the ankle joint area are fused. I always thought I would be loathe to have that done to me. Not least because of the recovery time which can be anything from 6 to 12 months, with at least 4 months of that non weight bearing. Having been off my feet for a day or so I fully realise how poor a surgical candidate I would be.
So I am now three weeks post operative the Hyprocure implant. I have committed to having a stable, no excessive flattening arch of the foot and it feels great. Thanks to Dr Michael Graham in Detroit for designing the implant and performing the surgery.
The story of Hyprocure™
The concept of placing something into the ankle joint space to correct foot function is not new. Since the 1900’s implants have been trialled, with real progress being made since 1946. However the designs were never quite right and whilst initial results were great. However after a while the high rate of removal did not justify its use in much podiatric opinion and Dr Graham himself became frustrated with initial success followed by the need to revise and redo the procedures.
So he came up with his own design, named it the Hyprocure™, and this was launched in 2004. So whilst we are still in early days I was convinced the design now matched the anatomy and have had my right foot corrected. Many Orthopaedic surgeons and Podiatric surgeons are now using this procedure as part of their surgical management of the problematic flatfoot.
One of the most important factors before surgery for me was the possibility of reversibility. If you have had to undergo major flatfoot surgery these procedures are not reversible. For the Hyprocure™, it is. For whatever reason (including infection and problems with placement), the implant can be removed and because it sits in a natural gap, there are no holes in bone or drilling and the foot will return to as before. So my own willingness to have my own foot corrected was greatly influenced by those facts.
Also the need for additional and multiple procedures was another great factor in my not wishing to get my own feet corrected unless I could no longer take another step. I have no desire to have my Achilles tendon cut and lengthened, no desire to have joints fused and certainly no inclination or the time to undergo a significant rehabilitation. So although I understood the long term problems I was content to hold off with footwear choices and orthotics.
I am pleased to be able to report how straightforward the recovery can be. I am able to go up and down stairs and my main problem is what to wear on my feet! Old shoes have the old shape and heels are not yet feasible. So it is a wrap and a sock at the moment and that feels the best.
To follow my progress please follow my blog at http://emmasupple.blogspot.com.
And finally, foot pain is not normal so see a Supplefeet Podiatrist to get a full assessment and to sort out your foot problems and concerns - 020 8367 9292.