Scar quality from partial or complete wound closure using the cincinnati incision for clubfoot surgery

The method of skin closure in using the Cincinnati incision for clubfoot su rgery may influence the quality of the scar obtained and the postoperative outcome. We retrospectively reviewed two groups of patients who underwent e ither primary skin closure (14 feet in 11 patients) or partial wound closur e and healing by secondary intention (15 feet in 11 patients). The quality of the scars from both of these methods were equally acceptable cosmeticall y, and neither technique predisposed the patient to any long-term would com plicatios. In addition, we noted that closing the skin may act as a soft ti ssue tether, and that the initial position of the postoperative splinting o f the foot may influence the surgical outcome. Both of these factors may co ntribute to the recurrence of equinovarus deformity.