Alterações radiográficas do tálus no pé torto congênito após liberação cirúrgica pela técnica de McKay / Radiographic abnormalities of the talus in patients with clubfoot after surgical release using the McKay technique

OBJETIVO: Analisar as alterações morfológicas do tálus após o tratamento cirúrgico do pé torto congênito pela técnica de McKay. MÉTODO: Foram analisadas, retrospectivamente, radiografias em perfil com carga dos pés de 14 pacientes com pé torto congênito unilateral submetidos ao tratamento pela técnica de McKay por dupla incisão. Todos os pacientes foram operados pelo mesmo cirurgião, com média de 6,53 anos entre a cirurgia e a radiografia. Comparamos as características do tálus dos pés operados com os parâmetros radiográficos dos pés contralaterais. Avaliamos a presença de deformidade do dômus e da cabeça do tálus (avaliação da esfericidade); a altura e o comprimento do tálus; a presença e grau de subluxação do navicular; a alteração do ângulo de Gissane; e o padrão do trabeculado ósseo. RESULTADOS: Alterações da cabeça do tálus ocorreram em 92,8 por cento dos casos; do dômus em 92,8 por cento; e do trabeculado em 100 por cento. A relação entre o comprimento do tálus do pé operado sobre o contralateral variou de 0,61 a 0,88 (média de 0,79; DP = 0,09), e da altura de 0,57 a 0,98 (média de 0,82; DP = 0,12). O ângulo de Gissane aumentou em todos os pés operados, e todos apresentaram subluxação do navicular, com índice variando de 6,43 a 59,75 por cento (média de 26,34 por cento; DP = 16,66 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Alterações talares ocorreram em 100 por cento dos pés tratados pela técnica de McKay. Estabelecer parâmetros radiográficos para descrever e quantificar essas deformidades mostrou-se viável, através de técnicas simples e de fácil execução.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze morphological abnormalities of the talus in patients with clubfoot after surgical treatment using the McKay technique. METHOD: Lateral standing-position radiographs of the feet of 14 patients with unilateral clubfoot who underwent treatment by means of the double-incision McKay technique were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were operated by the same surgeon, with an average of 6.53 years between surgery and the radiograph. We compared the radiographic characteristics of the talus between the operated and the contralateral foot. We assessed the presence of deformity of the talar dome and head (sphericity evaluation); the talar length and height; the percentage and degree of navicular subluxation; abnormalities of the Gissane angle; and the trabecular bone pattern. RESULTS: Abnormalities of the talar head occurred in 92.8 percent of the patients; of the talar dome in 92.8 percent; and of the trabecular pattern in 100 percent. The talar length ratio between the operated and the contralateral foot ranged from 0.61 to 0.88 (mean 0.79; SD = 0.09), while the height ratio ranged from 0.57 to 0.98 (mean 0.82; SD = 0.12). The Gissane angle was greater in all of the operated feet, and all of them also showed navicular subluxation, at a rate ranging from 6.43 to 59.75 percent (mean 26.34 percent; SD = 16.66 percent). CONCLUSION: Talar abnormalities occurred in 100 percent of the feet treated using the McKay technique. It was shown that establishing radiographic parameters to describe and quantify these deformities was feasible, through simple and easy-to-perform techniques.

Study of the force applied during anteroposterior articular mobilization of the talus and its effect on the dorsiflexion range of motion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior of the force applied during the Maitland grade III anteroposterior joint mobilization of the talus and its effect on dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM). METHODS: Two examiners performed measurements of dorsiflexion ROM on both ankles of healthy volunteers using a universal goniometer. The anteroposterior talus mobilization was first applied by examiner A for 30 seconds. Examiner B then repeated the same procedure. A platform was placed under the volunteer's leg to register the forces obtained during mobilization. After the procedure, examiner A assessed the ankle dorsiflexion. RESULTS: The results showed consistency regarding maximal forces applied throughout the 30 seconds of mobilization as well as low consistency upon the minimal forces. A significant increase in dorsiflexion ROM of the ankle was found immediately after joint mobilization. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study have shown consistent maximal forces applied by one examiner and inconsistent minimal forces during an ankle mobilization in healthy volunteers when the same examiner was compared. Moreover, the applied force was able to increase dorsiflexion ROM after the Maitland grade III anteroposterior mobilization of the talus.