Posteroplantar release for congenital clubfoot in children younger than 1 year

One hundred thirty-three resistant congenital clubfeet in 93 patients betwe en 3 and 10 months of age were operated on using a standardized posteroplan tar release. Clinical and radiographic assessments were done with a mean fo llowup of 7 years 4 months (range, 3-12 years). Using the McKay score, 79.7 % of the surgically treated clubfeet were classified as having a good or ex cellent result. Three patients had relapse of their clubfoot that required additional surgery. Seventeen feet in 15 patients had residual forefoot add uction at the time of followup, The radiographs showed that the early poste roplantar release led to sufficient hindfoot correction in all but the thre e patients who had relapse of the clubfoot. With this standardized surgical treatment, satisfactory results can be achieved in most patients younger t han 1 year with congenital clubfoot. However, in patients with persistent t alonavicular subluxation after conservative treatment, an additional talona vicular release combined with the posteroplantar release is recommended.