PubMed · 6905095
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
G Mitchell. 1980-11-13. Orthopaedics. 5. One step at a time.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6905095/
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
The concept of conservative clubfoot treatment beginning in the neonatal period has changed considerably in the last 2 decades. The rate of clubfeet requiring surgery (20%) and the extent of surgical interventions have dropped significantly. The early functional Montpellier method has proved to be highly effective for all degrees of deformity. It is used for patients from birth until the age of 1 year. The treatment during the first 3 months of life is decisive and consists of daily physical therapy, use of a continuous passive motion machine, and taping. This method represents an efficient alternative to the popular treatment of serial casting. Nevertheless, conservative clubfoot treatment reaches its limits as the degree of deformity increases and it should be complemented by a selective minimally invasive surgical concept. The technique is described systematically and its current value is discussed.
During the dissection of seven club feet of foetuses, aborted between the 25th and 37th week of gestation, an additional muscle bundle was found in a right foot. This muscle arose from both heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, continued downwards onto the posterior surface of the soleus, crossed the calcaneal tendon and assumed a position on the lateral side of the calcaneal tendon. The muscle's tendon was fixed just laterally to the calcaneal tendon in the calcaneal tuberosity with some tiny fibres branching off into the superior fibular retinaculum.
Our purpose was to develop a sonographic technique for clubfoot examination using measured angles to establish a classification system according to severity. Ultrasonography of 24 newborns with 32 clubfeet and 13 newborns with 22 normal feet was performed and measurements obtained. Analysis of components of variance was conducted. Patients with clubfeet showed higher dispersion in 95% confidence intervals for all angles than did patients with normal feet. A sonographic classification system was established: IIa, slight clubfoot; IIb, moderate clubfoot; IIc, severe clubfoot; IId, very severe clubfoot. Sonographic findings can be used to objectively assess various degrees of clubfoot severity.