Early intensive treatment of clubfootxs

Abstract

47 consecutive children with 28 bilateral and 19 unilateral clubfeet were treated during the neonatal period according to a strict protocol including physiotherapy and bracing from the first 2 weeks of life; further, in most of the children, an operation was performed at 3 (2-5) months of age. Physiotherapy was continued during the first year of life and bracing for 3 years. 27 feet had repeat operations. No perop-erative or postoperative complications were seen. At follow-up at aged 8 (6-11) years, the cosmetic result was good in 62 feet, acceptable in 12 feet, and poor in 1 foot, whereas the functional result was excellent in 51 feet, good in 21 feet, and fair in 3 feet. The radiographs showed a higher lateral talocalca-neal angle in the control feet than in the treated feet; but in other radiographic aspects, no differences were seen. The need of a secondary or even tertiary operation did not indicate a poor result.