A radiographic study of skeletal deformities in treated clubfeet

Abstract

Thirty-two patients with treated unilateral clubfoot deformity were followed for a period of 13 to 30 years. The functional results were satisfactory in 28 feet. A comparison of the skeletal features of the normal and the clubfeet was made on roentgenographs. Many clubfeet had small, slightly flattened talar heads, decreased talocalcaneal angles, undersized or misshapen facets of the subtalar joint, and medially displaced navicular. The residual deformity of the hindfoot was compensated by the lateral displacement and lateral angulation of the cuneiforms with respect to the navicular resulting in a normal alignment of the forefoot in relation to the hindfoot. The range of ankle dorsiflexion, subtalar and midtarsal joint motion was restricted in the clubfeet.