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Full correction of relapsed clubfoot reported with new surgical technique
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SAN FRANCISCO — Italian investigators who used a new surgical technique involving a special temporary calcaneus-cuboid joint arthrodesis plating system in pediatric patients with relapsed clubfoot reported improved postoperative talus-I metatarsus and calcaneus-IV metatarsus angles.
Antonello Montanaro, MD, of Rome, presented the results at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2012 Annual Meeting, here.
“The advantages of this technique are no need of casting, immediate postoperative weightbearing” and it is minimally invasive, he said.
Montanaro added, “We hypothesized that by stapling the calcaneus cuboid joint a temporary arthrodesis could be obtained and in this way it could be possible to modulate the growth of the lateral column.”
Another goal of the procedure was to reduce the risk of over correction.
The new surgical technique that Montanaro and his team developed and used in 10 patients (7 boys, 3 girls) with relapsed clubfoot involves implanting an 8-plate system that guides bone growth. All the patients treated this way previously underwent tibialis anterior tendon transfers.
Based on Bleck’s classification, clinical results showed 5 patients were normal and 5 patients were mild at the latest follow-up evaluation. Once full correction was obtained, surgeons removed the implants in all cases.
Reference:
- Montanaro A, Labianca L, Turturro, F, et al. Treatment of adduction deformity in relapsed clubfoot: A new mini invasive technique. Paper #336. Presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2012 Annual Meeting. Feb. 7-11. San Francisco.
- Disclosure: Montanaro has no relevant financial disclosures.
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