Underfoot pressure distribution in patients with Ledderhose disease

Author(s): JACEK LORKOWSKI, MAREK TRYBUS, WALDEMAR HŁADKI, LESZEK BRONGEL

Ledderhose disease is very rare and the results of pedobarographic examination on this pathology have not been published on literature. The aim of this study was to estimate the underfoot pressure distribution on Ledderhose disease. The examination group consisted of 3 adult women with unilaterally (2 persons) or mainly unilaterally (1 person) anatomical changes of aponeurosis plantaris during Ledderhose disease. Physical, radiological, ultrasonographic, NMR, pedobarographic, intraoperative and histological examination were performed. The underfoot pressure was determined at foot regions distinguished on the basis of the Blomgren’ classification. The control group on pedobarographic examination consists of 20 healthy women of the same age. Clinical, ultrasonographic, NMR and intraoperative examinations confirmed contractures fibrous tissue of aponeurosis plantaris. Pedobarographic examination on bipedal standing revealed decreased maximal and average pressure under the MT1, MT2, T and H regions on the foot with nodular plantar fibromatosis. Value of the pressure differences was greater on postural pedobarographic examination. Concluding, results of this study suggest changes of underfoot pressure distribution in case of anatomical changes of aponeurosis plantaris during Ledderhose disease.