ULTRASOUND CONTRIBUTION IN THE ANALYSIS OF THE NEWBORN AND INFANT NORMAL AND CLUBFOOT - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of ultrasound in the preoperative assessment of clubfoot and follow-up growth. We fi rst studied 50 normal newborns and infants (aged 1 day to 1 year). The normal values established were reliable, dynamic and reproducible mea surements allowing the assessment of osteo-articular relationships and cartilage morphology. Ultrasound appears to be more useful than radio graphy because it allows delineation of cartilaginous structures (whic h are not visible on conventional radiographs) and dynamic study of fo ot positions, and has no danger from radiation. A future paper will co ntain preliminary results of cases of clubfoot studied by ultrasound.