Other possible surgical complications include infection and failure of the fused bones to heal.

Possible ComplicationsР”Р‡lat feet are not really associated with any complications except pain.Р”Р„lthough surgery is usually successful, it sometimes does not result in satisfactory results. Otherwise, these patients report tremendous improvement in pain and function. People with fusions will have some loss of ankle motion, especially when turning the foot inward and outward. Some causes of flat feet can be successfully treated without surgery if caught early, but occasionally, surgery is the last option to relieve pain. Usually treatment is successful, regardless of the cause. The outlook for painful flat feet depends on the cause of the condition. Most cases of flat feet are painless and do not cause any problems. In more advanced cases, surgery may be needed to clean or repair the tendon, or fuse some of the joints of the foot into a corrected position.Р”Р‡lat feet in older adults can be treated with pain relievers, orthotics, and sometimes surgery. If this fails to improve the pain, surgery may be necessary.Р”Р‡or problems with the posterior tibial tendon, treatment may start with rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and shoe inserts or ankle braces. For tarsal coalition, treatment starts with rest and possibly a cast. The treatment depends on the cause of the flat feet. Rigid or painful flat feet require evaluation by a health care provider. The shoes designed for pronated feet make long distance running easier and less tiring because they correct for the abnormality. With the increased interest in running, many shoe stores carry shoes for normal feet and pronated feet. If you have pain due to flexible flat feet, an orthotic (arch-supporting insert in the shoe) can bring relief. TreatmentР”Р‡lexible flat feet that are painless do not require treatment. If a posterior tibial tendon injury is suspected, your health care provider may recommend an MRI. If a tarsal coalition is suspected, a CT scan is often ordered. If there is pain associated with the foot or if the arch does not develop with toe-standing, x-rays are necessary. If an arch develops when the patient stands on his or her toes, the flat foot is called flexible and no treatment or further work-up is necessary. Heel tilts away from the midline of the body more than usualР”Р„n examination of the foot is enough for the health care provider to diagnose flat foot.This type of flat foot is usually on one side. When the shoes of children who pronate are placed side by side, they will lean toward each other (after they have been worn long enough for the foot position to remodel their sole).Р”Р‡oot pain, ankle pain, or lower leg pain (especially in children) may be a result of flat feet and should be evaluated by a health care provider.Р”Р„dults can develop a flat foot when they are 60 - 70 years old. Flat feet may be associated with pronation, in which the ankle bones lean inward toward the center line. Most flat feet do not cause pain or other problems. This limits motion and often leads to a flat foot. In tarsal coalition, two or more of the bones in the foot fuse together. Painful flat feet in children may be caused by a condition called tarsal coalition. Stiff, inflexible, or painful flat feet may be associated with other conditions and require attention. Most feet are flexible and an arch appears when the person stands on his or her toes. When flat feet persist, most are considered variations of normal. By adulthood, most people have developed normal arches. In infants and toddlers, the arch is not developed and flat feet are normal. In some individuals, this arch never develops while they are growing.

Pes planus is a condition in which the arch or instep of the foot collapses and comes in contact with the ground.

Congenital pes planus