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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2022; 26(06): 755-776
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1760244
Review Article

Postsurgical Evaluation of the Pediatric Foot and Ankle

Maria Pilar Aparisi Gómez 
1   Department of Radiology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
2   Department of Radiology. IMSKE, València, Spain
,
Alberto Bazzocchi
3   Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
,
Paolo Simoni 
4   Diagnostic Imaging Department, “Reine Fabiola” Children's University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
,
Emilio J. Inarejos Clemente
5   Department of Radiology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
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Abstract

This article reviews situations in which surgical treatment is required in the context of different types of pathology in the foot and ankle of children, focusing on the role of imaging in surgical planning and postsurgical assessment. The types of pathology analyzed from this perspective are congenital pathology, neuromuscular disorders, osteochondral lesions, fractures and infection, ligament injuries, and tumors.

We address the most common pitfalls of postsurgical imaging of the ankle and foot in children. With some exceptions, postsurgical follow-up focuses on clinical assessment, with imaging follow-up only needed in patients where complications are suspected or symptoms recur. Postoperative assessment of the foot and ankle in children and adolescents requires knowing the indications for surgery and the most common types of interventions, along with their imaging characteristics. The radiologist needs to be aware of the normal sequence of development of structures and how to select adequate imaging techniques to assess anatomy at various stages or in different postsurgical scenarios.

Keywords

postsurgical imaging - pediatric foot - pediatric ankle - congenital - fractures


Publication History

Article published online:
15 February 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
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