To detect image findings in ankle MRI that can help suspect of a "subtle cavus foot" deformity.

The term "cavus foot" concerns a range of foot shapes that have in common a high arch, affecting one fifth to one quarter of the population. 1 Recently, there has been an increasing interest in mild variation of the cavovarus deformity, not associated with a neurological deficit. This represents a slight degree of cavovarus deformity, associated with characteristic symptoms. Manoli and Graham came up with the term "subtle cavus foot", but there are other terms in the literature such as mild, nonneurologic or idiopathic cavus...

Clinical manifestations of subtle cavus foot can affect the entire lower limb. Table 1 lists the clinical findings associated with this condition, whose imaging manifestations can be found on ankle MR imaging studies. 5 Table 1 Image findings associated with subtle cavus foot Image findings in and around ankle: Peroneus longus/ brevis tendinopathy and/ or tears Peroneus tendon subluxation/ dislocation Enlarged peroneal tubercle Os peroneum syndrome Recurrent ankle sprain or instability Anteromedial impingement Degenerative changes and osteochondral lesion in the medial half of the ankle...

Subtle cavovarus deformity, a frequently underestimated cause of chronic ankle instability and lateral side foot pain, can be suspected by ankle MRI. What may seem understated at first, can become more recognizable over time, helping managing this clinical condition.

1. Ledoux WR, Shofer JB, Ahroni JH, et al. Biomechanical differences among pes cavus, neutrally aligned and pes planus feet in subjects with diabetes. Foot Ankle Int 2003;24: 845–50. 2. Manoli A 2nd, Graham B. The subtle cavus foot, “the underpronator”. Foot Ankle Int 2005;26(3):256–63. 3. Mosca, VS: The Cavus Foot. J. Pediatr. Orthop. 21:423 – 424, 2001. 4. The Anatomy of Cavus Foot Deformity Arash Aminian, MD, Bruce J. Sangeorzan, MD Foot Ankle Clin N Am 13 (2008) 191–198 5. Abbasian A., Pomeroy G....