Complete subtalar release in club feet. Part II--Comparison with less extensive procedures

Abstract

A comparison of the complete subtalar release with less extensive soft-tissue releases in the treatment of idiopathic club foot was done in two groups of patients. Group I consisted of seventeen patients (twenty-six feet), of whom fourteen patients (twenty-one feet) had a posteromedial and lateral release. Group II consisted of seventeen patients (twenty-five feet) who had a complete subtalar release. All patients were followed for a minimum of two years. The complete subtalar release provided a higher percentage of both radiographically and clinically satisfactory results than did the less extensive soft-tissue procedures, but with the former procedure there was a tendency to overcorrection unless the bones were precisely repositioned at the end of the procedure.