To provide evidence-based recommendations for managing pediatric flexible flatfoot.
Key Findings:
Structured conservative management is the mainstay of care for symptomatic children, with a minimum 6-month trial before surgical referral.
Foot orthoses can provide symptomatic relief, and rehabilitative exercises may yield better outcomes than orthoses alone.
No validated criteria exist for transitioning between treatment phases, which complicates management.
Interpretation:
The guideline emphasizes the need for standardized definitions and multicenter data to improve treatment consistency and outcomes in pediatric flatfoot management, which could enhance clinical decision-making.
Limitations:
Low to very low certainty of evidence for most treatment components, which may affect the reliability of recommendations.
Lack of consensus on optimal conservative treatment type, dose, and duration.
Conclusion:
The guideline aims to clarify treatment recommendations and reduce practice variation in managing pediatric flexible flatfoot.
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