Editing Polio (section)

===Complications===
Residual complications of paralytic polio often occur following the initial recovery process.<ref name= Late /> Muscle [[paresis]] and paralysis can sometimes result in [[skeletal]] deformities, tightening of the joints, and movement disability. Once the muscles in the limb become flaccid, they may interfere with the function of other muscles. A typical manifestation of this problem is [[equinus foot]] (similar to [[club foot]]). This deformity develops when the muscles that pull the toes downward are working, but those that pull it upward are not, and the foot naturally tends to drop toward the ground. If the problem is left untreated, the [[Achilles tendon]]s at the back of the foot retract and the foot cannot take on a normal position. People with polio that develop equinus foot cannot walk properly because they cannot put their heels on the ground. A similar situation can develop if the arms become paralyzed.<ref name= Aftereffects>{{cite web | publisher = Sanofi Pasteur | title = Poliomyelitis virus (picornavirus, enterovirus), after-effects of the polio, paralysis, deformations | work = Polio Eradication | url = http://www.polio.info/polio-eradication/front/index.jsp?siteCode=POLIO&lang=EN&codeRubrique=14 | access-date = 23 August 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071007100336/http://www.polio.info/polio-eradication/front/index.jsp?siteCode=POLIO&lang=EN&codeRubrique=14 |archive-date = 7 October 2007}}</ref>

In some cases the growth of an affected leg is slowed by polio, while the other leg continues to grow normally. The result is that one leg is shorter than the other and the person limps and leans to one side, in turn leading to deformities of the spine (such as [[scoliosis]]).<ref name= Aftereffects /> [[Osteoporosis]] and increased likelihood of [[bone fracture]]s may occur. An intervention to prevent or lessen length disparity can be to perform an [[epiphysiodesis]] on the distal femoral and proximal tibial/fibular condyles, so that limb's growth is artificially stunted, and by the time of [[epiphyseal plate|epiphyseal (growth) plate]] closure, the legs are more equal in length. Alternatively, a person can be fitted with custom-made footwear which corrects the difference in leg lengths. Other surgery to re-balance muscular agonist/antagonist imbalances may also be helpful.  Extended use of braces or wheelchairs may cause [[nerve compression syndrome|compression neuropathy]], as well as a loss of proper function of the [[vein]]s in the legs, due to pooling of blood in paralyzed lower limbs.<ref name= Hoyt>{{cite book | vauthors = Hoyt WG, Miller N, Walsh F |title=Walsh and Hoyt's clinical neuro-ophthalmology |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Hagerstown, MD |year=2005 |pages=3264–65 |isbn=978-0-7817-4814-8 }}</ref><ref name=MayoComps>{{cite web| author = Mayo Clinic Staff| date = 19 May 2005| url = http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polio/DS00572/DSECTION=complications| title = Polio: Complications| publisher = Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)| access-date = 26 February 2007| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080623225045/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polio/DS00572/DSECTION%3Dcomplications| archive-date = 23 June 2008}}</ref> Complications from prolonged immobility involving the [[lungs]], [[kidney]]s and [[heart]] include [[pulmonary edema]], [[aspiration pneumonia]], [[urinary tract infection]]s, [[kidney stone]]s, [[paralytic ileus]], [[myocarditis]] and [[cor pulmonale]].<ref name= Hoyt/><ref name=MayoComps />