A New Parameter Set for Clubfoot Classification

The purpose of this study was to explore a new parameter set for clubfoot identification. Based on the installation of a customized foot pressure measurement and analysis system, the original data for plantar pressure were obtained from 20 normal foot adults and 30 clubfoot patients. Peak pressures and regional contact area were deduced from the original pressure data, and then were analyzed in ten anatomically significant areas of the foot. Comparing with normal feet, flat feet exhibited larger contact area in midfoot (7.573±±0.52cm²), and hollow feet showed smaller contact area (2.414±±0.674cm²) in midfoot. During walking, the highest peak pressure and the second highest pressure of pollex valgus were found beneath hallux and middle forefoot, respectively, and overall the highest peak pressure of hollow feet was found beneath forefoot. Furthermore, the highest peak pressure and the second highest peak pressure of pollex valgus for standing were found underneath hallux and lateral forefoot. The experimental results suggested that the peak pressure distribution and the contact area could be used for clubfoot classifications, i.e. flat foot, hollow foot and pollex valgus. A combination of the aforementioned parameters was investigated using an improved ID3 decision tree.