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Back to CIM Cases
GeneralFoot & Ankle

Foot Cavovarus - Charcot-Marie-Tooth

General
Intermediate
6 min
High Yield
revision
6:00
Start the timer to simulate exam conditions

Foot Cavovarus - Charcot-Marie-Tooth

Clinical Scenario

A 25-year-old male presents with progressive bilateral foot deformity and recurrent lateral ankle sprains. He has difficulty with shoe wear and calluses under the first and fifth metatarsal heads. On examination, he has high-arched feet with hindfoot varus that corrects with Coleman block test. He has subtle weakness of ankle dorsiflexion and EHL.

Questions & Model Answers

Q1

What is the likely underlying diagnosis and what investigations would you perform?

Q2

What does the Coleman block test tell you and how does it guide treatment?

Q3

Describe your surgical approach for this patient.

Q4

What is the postoperative management and rehabilitation for cavovarus correction?

Q5

How do you manage progressive disease and the need for revision surgery?

Q6

What is the prognosis and expected functional outcome after surgical correction?

Exam Tips

Opening Statement: This patient has bilateral cavovarus feet likely due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The positive Coleman block test indicates flexible hindfoot with forefoot-driven deformity. Surgical correction would address the plantarflexed first ray first, followed by soft tissue rebalancing and lateral ankle stabilisation.

Common Pitfalls:

  • Don't reconstruct ankle ligaments without correcting bony deformity
  • Always investigate underlying cause in adult-onset cavus
  • Progressive disease may need revision surgery over time
Quick Stats
Category
General
DifficultyIntermediate
Time Allowed6 min
Reading Time18 min
Investigation Types
imaging
Exam Tips

Read the clinical scenario carefully

Structure your answers systematically

Consider differential diagnoses

Justify your investigation choices

Think about management priorities