The results of early posterior release in resistant club feet. A long-term review

Abstract

Seventy resistant club feet in 46 patients were treated within the first six months of life by posterior release as an incident in continuing conservative care and were later assessed at an average age of 15 years. Assessment was made upon strict clinical criteria, including appearance, function and degree of pain during activity; the results were excellent in 22 feet, good in 19, and poor in 29. We also studied the correlation between the radiographs and the final outcome. From these data we propose certain indications for the timing and technique of this type of management, and also discuss the relative merits of this approach compared with more conventional radical release operations.

Results of an Accelerated Ponseti Protocol for Clubfoot

“…To avoid these outcomes, early and even primary surgical treatment of clubfoot is practiced, often with equally disturbing failures and complications. 3,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Since the late 1940s we have followed the method of correction developed by the senior author (I.V.P.). 22,23 This method involves weekly stretching of the deformity followed by application of a long-leg cast.…”

Surgical Treatment of Idiopathic Clubfoot

“…Green and Lloyd-Roberts (23) found that the older the patients after 5 months of age, the worse the surgical outcome. Cummings and Lovell (24) stated that when surgery was performed before 2 months of age there was no improvement in outcome over a later age.…”

“…Many studies report that the best result for clubfoot surgery occur when surgery is performed at an early age (19)(20)(21)(22)(23).…”

Correction of neglected clubfoot deformity in children with Moebius syndrome

“…Congenital clubfoot deformity is a correctable deformity with good to excellent results if the treatment is instituted as soon as the deformity is recognized [7][8][9][10].…”