Weight-bearing Dynamic Foot and Ankle Fluoroscopy—A Useful Diagnostic Examination with an Emphasis on the Talotarsal Joint: A Technical Note

Aim and background: The foot and ankle form one of the most complex joints of the human body. Clinical examination complemented with the right diagnostics help to make reasonable diagnosis and plan treatment for the same. Weight-bearing radiographs are the norm; however, they are not sufficient to evaluate a dynamic deformity, which is best evaluated by weight-bearing fluoroscopy. Technique: A mini C-arm in a Western setting or a tilting fluoroscopy unit in an Indian setting, with a provision to allow the patient to stand on a step and perform the dynamic single-limb weight-bearing stance, can provide the best diagnostic imaging when dealing with dynamic deformities such as pes planus, and the technique for the same is described here. Conclusion: Dynamic weight-bearing fluoroscopy evaluates the relationships between the various bones of the foot and ankle and helps to plan the treatment for that specific type of pes planus. Clinical significance: A deformity such as pes planus, which has resulted from the malalignment of the talotarsal joint (TTJ), can be easily identified, and appropriate treatment measures can be planned, which would be missed in static imaging of the foot.