Effects on the Lower Limb Anthropometry in Patients with Unilateral Idiopathic Clubfoot Treated Conservatively with Ponseti Technique

Abstract

Category: Other; Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: Congenital Talipes Equino-Varus is amongst the most common congenital orthopaedic anomalies. Limb length discrepancy is considered as the commonest complication in patients with unilateral clubfoot despite the best non- operative correction. In the present series of cases we aim to study all the possible effects on the lower limb anthropometry in patients with unilateral idiopathic clubfoot who have been managed conservatively. Methods: This retrospective study included 47 patients with idiopathic, unilateral CTEV who were successfully treated with Ponseti’s technique. Patients with neuromuscular causes, those requiring extensive soft tissue releases or osteotomies and cases with relapsed or recurrent CTEV were excluded. Casting was initiated following maternal manipulation for one to two weeks. Pirani scores were recorded initially and weekly till correction. After deformity correction, anthropometric measurements (femur and tibia length, calf girth and foot length and foot height) were recorded and compared to the opposite normal limb. Results: Only four patients showed a difference in their femur length while difference in tibia length was noted in 10 patients which were statistically not significant. A significant difference was found in the calf girth, foot height and foot length affecting 28, 43 and 42 patients respectively. Conclusion: Patients with unilateral clubfoot treated with Ponseti’s correction tend to have anthropometric difference between the affected and the unaffected extremity. While there is a relative sparing of femur and tibia length, calf girth, foot height and foot length are consistently less compared to the unaffected side.