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oa Non-Surgical Treatment of Congenital Clubfoot
- Source: Qatar Medical Journal, Volume 2003, Issue 2, Dec 2003,
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- 01 December 2003
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate how effective was the conserva-tive treatment in managing congenital talipes equinovarus deformity.
Methods: This is a retrospective study of 25 children treated with manipulation, casting followed by percutane-ous tenotomy at the age of thee months with casting till age of walking with a follow-up between 2-5 years 25 pa-tients 18 males 7females M\F (2.6-1), 19 bilateral (15 My 4 F), 6 unilateral (3 M, 3 F) total of 44 feet.
Result: The first three months offer the skilled and knowledgeable surgeon a golden opportunity to correct the deformity by manipulation and casting. Proper manipula-tive techniques followed by the applications of well-molded plaster casts offer the best and safest correction of most clubfeet in infants. Failures of manipulative treatment usually occur when the surgeon lacks a thorough knowledge of the kinematics and pathological anatomy of the deformity.
Conclusion: CTEV can be treated by manipulation, casting and ETA in about 70% of cases with good results if managed early and by skilled orthopedic surgeon. Some feet are unpredictable and in spite of the severity of the deformity, respond well to conservative treatment.