Management of relapsed clubfeet by soft tissue distraction using the ilizarov method

Nineteen feet with relapsed clubfeet in 14 patients were treated by soft tissue distraction using the Ilizarov method. There were nine unilateral and five bilateral deformities in ten boys and four girls. They had an average of three [range of 2-5] previous surgical interventions; all were in the form of soft tissue release. The average time taken for the correction of the deformity till frame removal was 10.5 weeks [range of 9-12 weeks] and the average follow up period was 2.4 years [range of 1-4 years]. Twelve feet were graded as excellent, 5 as good and 2 as fair results. The frame was well tolerated by all children and their parents until a full correction of the deformity occurred