Structural Foot Characteristics in People With Midfoot Osteoarthritis: Cross-Sectional Findings From the Clinical Assessment Study of the Foot

Lithgow, Merridy J; Buldt, Andrew K; Munteanu, Shannon E; Marshall, Michelle M; Thomas, Martin J; Peat, George; Roddy, Edward; Menz, Hylton B

Abstract

To compare radiographic measures of foot structure between people with and without symptomatic radiographic midfoot osteoarthritis (OA). This was a cross-sectional study of adults aged ≥50 years registered with four UK general practices who reported foot pain in the past year. Bilateral weightbearing dorsoplantar and lateral radiographs were obtained. Symptomatic radiographic midfoot OA was defined as midfoot pain in the last four weeks, combined with radiographic OA in one or more midfoot joints (first cuneometatarsal, second cuneometatarsal, navicular-first cuneiform and talonavicular). Midfoot OA cases were matched 1:1 for sex and age to controls with a five-year age tolerance. Eleven radiographic measures were extracted and compared between the groups using independent samples t-tests and effect sizes (Cohen's d). We identified 63 midfoot OA cases (mean age 66.8, SD 8.0, 32 males, 31 females) and matched these to 63 controls (mean age 65.9, SD 7.8). There were no differences in metatarsal lengths between the groups. However, those with midfoot OA had a higher calcaneal first metatarsal angle (d=0.43, small effect size, p=0.018) and lower calcaneal inclination angle (d=0.46, small effect size, p=0.011) compared with controls. People with midfoot OA have a flatter foot posture compared with controls. Although caution is required when inferring causation from cross-sectional data, these findings are consistent with a pathomechanical pathway linking foot structure to the development of midfoot OA. Prospective studies are required to determine the temporal relationships between foot structure, function, and the development of this common and disabling condition. [Abstract copyright: This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.]

Citation

Lithgow, M. J., Buldt, A. K., Munteanu, S. E., Marshall, M. M., Thomas, M. J., Peat, G., …Menz, H. B. (in press). Structural Foot Characteristics in People With Midfoot Osteoarthritis: Cross-Sectional Findings From the Clinical Assessment Study of the Foot. Arthritis Care & Research, 10.1002/acr.25217. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25217

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 10, 2023
• Deposit Date: Sep 7, 2023
• Journal: Arthritis care & research
• Print ISSN: 2151-464X
• Electronic ISSN: 2151-4658
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 10.1002/acr.25217
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25217