On Pathogenesis of Recurrent Club Foot

Abstract

Complex study of motor skills in children with congenital club foot was performed at CITO laboratory of clinical physiology and biomechanics, and clinic of pediatric orthopaedics. Subjects for electrophysiological and biomechanical examination were 34 patients with congenital unilateral club foot (19 boys and 15 girls) aged from 3 to 16 years. Intact extremity indices were used for comparison. Study in open biokinematic contour mode on the affected side showed decrease in voluntary bioelectric activity of anterior tibial muscle by 34-60% and gastrocnemius muscle by 7-19%. Spectrum analysis of EMG and computed mechanography showed the decrease of tonic fibers activity in peroneal muscles of the lower leg with its increase in posterior group of muscles. Stabilometry and study of gate parameters on the affected side showed synergetic type of anterior and posterior muscles interaction with preservation of antagonistic type in the normal extremity. Suprasegmentary pattern of affection (lesion) was detected by method of stimulation electromyography. The data obtained confirm the influence of pathologic motor skill on the development of deformity recurrences at surgical treatment of children with congenital club foot.