Classifications in adult pes cavus - A scoping review

Karan Malhotra; Shelain Patel; Nicholas Cullen; Matthew Welck

doi:10.1016/j.foot.2024.102098

Classifications in adult pes cavus - A scoping review

Foot (Edinb). 2024 Apr 17:59:102098. doi: 10.1016/j.foot.2024.102098. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Karan Malhotra¹, Shelain Patel², Nicholas Cullen³, Matthew Welck²

Affiliations

¹ Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, UK; Department of Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: karanm83@gmail.com.
² Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, UK; Department of Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, London, UK.
³ Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, UK.

PMID: 38678805
DOI: 10.1016/j.foot.2024.102098

Abstract

Aims: The adult cavus foot represents a challenging clinical problem, with varied aetiology and complex, 3-dimensional deformities. Thus far, the cavus foot has eluded a unified classification. The aim of this paper was to appraise the literature to identify classification systems which guide the operative management of neurological cavus feet in adults.

Methods: As the aim of this paper was broad, a scoping review was conducted. The review was conducted in line with published frameworks. Our principal research question was 'what classification systems that guide surgical management currently exist for neurological cavus feet in adults'. We searched CINAHL, Embase, OVID, Proquest, Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases using MESH and non-MESH terms. Two authors independently reviewed abstracts / papers and a data extraction sheet was used to collect the relevant data.

Results: A total of 1140 articles were initially screened, identifying 125 articles for which a full text review was performed. Only three articles met all our inclusion criteria. All these articles reported an anatomical classification with suggestions for treatment based on the classification. All were considered to comprise Level V evidence, and none reported outcomes of treatment based on the classification.

Conclusions: There is currently a paucity of robust classifications to guide treatment in neurological cavus feet in adults. The few classifications systems that exist are varied and do not as yet have sufficient evidence to support their widespread use. Further work is required, aimed at identifying specific features of cavus feet that would guide operative treatment.

Keywords: Cavovarus; Cavus; Classification; Foot; Neurological; Review; Treatment.

Publication types

Review