Reliability of Percutaneous Achilles Tenotomy in the Treatment of Idiopathic Clubfoot.

BACKGROUND: Talipesequinovarus is a congenital ankle/foot malformation that commonly affects newborns. In its treatment using the Ponseti method, an Achilles tenotomy is frequently needed to correct residual equinus deformity. Percutaneous (PC) tenotomy is the most commonly used technique and needs to be thoroughly evaluated. The question we needed to answer was: "Does PC Achilles tenotomy result in complete tendon sectioning"? METHODS: This clinical study included 56 idiopathic clubfeet in 36 patients who presented during the first 6 months of life and were treated with Ponseti manipulation and casting followed by PC Achilles tenotomy. PC tenotomy was done under general anesthesia, and Thompson's calf squeeze test was performed intraoperatively just after tenotomy. In case of a negative test (ie, ankle plantar flexion with calf squeeze), the percutaneous incision was extended to assess the cause of the negative test. RESULTS: Forty-nine feet (87.5%) had a complete tenotomy, as evidenced by a positive Thompson's calf squeeze test. While 7 feet (12.5%) showed a negative test, and therefore the percutaneous incision was extended and all were found to have an incompletely divided Achilles tendon. The tendons were then completely divided, after which Thompson's test became positive in all. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous Achilles tenotomy is a reliable procedure, but was found to result in incomplete tendon sectioning in 12.5% of cases, affecting the range of ankle dorsiflexion. Thompson's squeeze test is reliable in picking up cases of incomplete tenotomy after the PC technique, and in these cases the incision should be extended for complete sectioning. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I.

Femoral head reduction osteotomy for the treatment of late sequela of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and Perthes-like femoral head deformities.

Femoral head reduction osteotomy (FHRO) was described to treat misshapen femoral head that is causing intraarticular hip pain. The published literature showed discrepancies in patient selection, surgical techniques, and decision to perform concurrent acetabular osteotomy. Very few studies used Standardized Outcome Measures (SOMs). This study aims to describe the technique of FHRO and report the results of our series of 22 patients using SOMs and compare them to former peer-reviewed articles. Twenty-two hips in 22 patients with hip pain caused by mishshapen femoral were treated with FHRO with or without triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). Patients with poor hip range of motion and significant hip joint arthritis were excluded. The mean patient age was 15.8 (range, 9.2-23.9). Clinical results were reported using the HHS. Radiographical results were reported by comparing Lateral Center Edge Angle (LCEA), extrusion index, Tonnis angle, head size percent, sphericity index, and distance from tip of trochanter to center of femoral head. The mean follow-up was 3.2 years. Only 5 patients received TPO. The HHS showed statistical improvement from 62.0 to 81.6 (The median interquartile range 63.5-88.5). Five patients had HHS less than 70 at the latest follow up. All radiographic parameters except the Tonnis angle, showed statistically significant improvement. FHRO with or without pelvic osteotomy is a good salvage procedure for patients presenting with misshapen femoral head with intraarticular hip pain, who still have good preoperative ROM with no signs of hip arthritis. Level of evidence: IV.

The role of ultrasound in clubfoot treatment: correlation with the Pirani score and assessment of the Ponseti method.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate neonates and infants with clubfoot, clinical and imaging modalities are required. Conventional radiography is of limited value because the studied bones are not fully ossified. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We attempted to (1) evaluate clinically and sonographically the reliability of the Ponseti method in correcting clubfeet; and (2) determine whether various ultrasound (US) variables correlated with each other and with the Pirani score before and after treatment. METHODS: We prospectively followed 17 infants (25 clubfeet) assessed using the Pirani score and US variables (medial malleolus navicular distance, navicular alignment in relation to the talar head, medial soft tissue thickness, talar length, and calcaneocuboid distance) and treated with the Ponseti method. The mean age of the patients at first casting was 30 days, and repeat assessment after treatment was performed at a mean age of 6.3 months. Patients were followed for a minimum of 0.75 months (mean, 14.1 months; range, 0.75-38 months). RESULTS: The Ponseti method corrected all feet. We found three clinical/US correlations. Before treatment, we observed a negative correlation between the clinical midfoot score and the sonographic medial malleolus navicular distance. After treatment we observed two negative correlations: one between the midfoot score and the sonographic talar length and the other between the hindfoot score and medial malleolus navicular distance. Four feet had recurrence of varus, two of which had an increased calcaneocuboid distance despite full restoration of navicular alignment in one foot. CONCLUSIONS: US can play a role in clubfoot assessment and may alert the surgeon to feet that may be prone to recurrence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.