Comparative Analysis between Podography and Radiography in the Management of Idiopathic Clubfeet by Ponseti Technique

Abstract

Introduction: Idiopathic clubfoot is one of the most common and oldest congenital foot anomalies. There are controversies regarding its optimum management protocol and methodologies to be employed for its functional outcome evaluation. This paper attempts to propose a simple, reasonable and easily reproducible technique of podography for clinical and functional evaluation of clubfoot treated by the popular Ponseti technique. Aim: To compare the Foot Bimalleolar (FBM) angle method (podography) and radiography with respect to management of idiopathic clubfoot by Ponseti’s Technique and its functional evaluation. Materials and Methods: Sixty feet of 48 patients with idiopathic clubfoot deformity were assessed in terms of FBM by podography (foot print on paper and FBM angle drawing) and radiologically; before starting treatment, after 6 weeks and at 6 monthly intervals with a maximum follow up period of 4.8 years (Range 1.2 to 4.8 years). Mean age at start of treatment was 1.5 years (2 months to 2.5 years). Functional evaluation was done by Magone’s scoring system. Results: After treatment, 92 percent patients had good correction (FBM greater than 70 degrees) which correlated well with post treatment Magone’s score of greater than 80 (good to excellent) in nearly 85 percent of cases. Radiologically, talocalcaneal angles in both the views improved in only 60 percent of cases. Conclusion: Radiological criteria show inconsistent correlation with functional outcome for feet treated by Ponseti’s Technique. Podography (FBM angle analysis) is a very simple, objective, cost effective, radiation free, easily reproducible and highly reliable clinical criterion for the assessment of deformity correction in club foot by Ponseti’s Technique with an excellent correlation with functional outcome.

Keywords

• foot bimalleolar angle
• magone’s score
• talocalcaneal angle
• tibio-talar angle