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Idiopathic clubfoot: ten year follow-up after a soft tissue release procedure

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Abstract

Purpose

Our objective is to report longitudinal outcomes of selective surgical soft tissue release for idiopathic clubfoot (ICF).

Methods

Thirty-six ICF patients who had surgery at the average age of 11 (range nine to 17) months and 12 age-matched normal feet were evaluated yearly until subjects had the average age of 11 (range seven to 19) years using eight radiographic parameters. The Ponseti and Dimeglio scores were rated. Serial ankle and subtalar motions and talocalcaneal (TC) index changes over time were analyzed using mixed effects random-intercept longitudinal models.

Results

At the last follow-up, ankle and subtalar motions were more restricted in the ICF but no significant changes in motion were observed over follow-up, except for small but significant decreases in the TC index in both ICF and control feet. The average measurement in ICF group versus control revealed significantly lower angles in the five assessed parameters. The mean Ponseti score was 88 (range 40–97) and ICF showed an improvement of the Dimeglio score. A positive correlation between the Ponseti score and the subtalar motion was noted, whereas talar flattening had a negative influence on the ankle motion.

Conclusions

Soft tissue release surgery limited to only pathologies encountered during the procedure maintains motions of ankle and subtalar joints in ICF.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Grant number RA 41/52.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Rama 4 road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand, 10330

    Noppachart Limpaphayom & Pairatch Prasongchin

  2. The HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand (HIV-NAT) Research Collaboration, Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center, Bangkok, Thailand

    Stephen J. Kerr

  3. The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Stephen J. Kerr

Authors
  1. Noppachart Limpaphayom
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  2. Stephen J. Kerr
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  3. Pairatch Prasongchin
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Correspondence to Noppachart Limpaphayom.

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Limpaphayom, N., Kerr, S.J. & Prasongchin, P. Idiopathic clubfoot: ten year follow-up after a soft tissue release procedure. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 39, 81–86 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-014-2526-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-014-2526-4

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