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Backgrounds: Clubfoot is a foot disorder frequently seen. Although, there are several studies about the efficiency of physiotherapy in the treatment of clubfoot, physiotherapy programs may be more efficient if the treatment apply step by step similar to the logic of the serial casting progression of the involved foot. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of three-phase physiotherapy program in children with clubfoot. Methods: Fifty-seven patients (37 males, 20 females; 7.26 ± 1.27 years) with clubfoot which had Ponseti treatment before were included. The ankle dorsiflexion (DF) and plantar flexion (PF) ranges of motion (ROM), one-leg standing time, sit-to-stand test, The Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire (OxAFQ) and treatment satisfaction were evaluated before and after treatment. A three-phase physiotherapy program was applied for 3 months. Results: DF, PF, one-leg standing time, sit-to-stand test, treatment satisfaction and all parameters of OxAFQ except ‘Emotional’ parameter of OxAFQ-Children significantly improved after treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The three-phase physiotherapy program increased the ankle range of motion, improved functional status and treatment satisfaction in children with clubfoot. The three-phase physiotherapy might be a reasonable treatment for clubfoot. Although, there is a need for long-term studies to understand its effects on preventing relapse. © 2021 European Foot and Ankle Society The authors thank to all patients for participating in the study.

Objective: In our study, it is aimed to remove the cast more easily and safely without using the cutting tools by leaving the cast ends marked by folding in the idiopathic clubfoot patients treated with Ponseti method. Material and Methods: Forty feet of 29 patients treated for Pes Equinovarus were included in the study. Patients were followed up in two groups. The group treated with Ponseti method by cast marking were named as “modified group” and cast wrapped group without marking were named as “classical group”. Neurological, teratologic and syndromic clubfoot patients were not included in the study. During the six series of casting, cast removal times for each extremity are recorded in minutes and it is noted that whether any additional cutting tool is used during cast removal or not. A summary of the data was presented as mean, standard deviation and percentage. Comparisons of the categorical characteristics were analysed by using the Chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney test. IBM-SPSS 20 program was used for analysis. In all tests, the level of significance was adjusted to 0.05. Results: Thirteen (44.8%) of the 29 patients were male and 16 (55.2%) were female. While the mean time to start treatment for the 15 patients in the modified group was 3.46 (2-7) days, mean time for the 14 patients in the classical group was 3.78 (2-10) days. While the mean cast removal time of the 20 extremities of 15 patients in the modifying group was 10.9 minutes (8-14.3 min);it was 22.2 minutes (17.1-29.5 min) for the 20 extremities of 14 patients in the classical group. While no additional cutting tool was used during cast removal in the modified group, additional cutting tools were used during removal of cast in 75% (15/20) of the patients in the classical group and statistically significant difference was found between two groups in terms of the use of cutting tools (p

Objective: Congenital pes equinovarus (PEV) is the most common congenital deformity of the foot, characterized by plantar flexion with a frequency of 0.2-0.3%. It can be diagnosed from the 12th week of pregnancy. Non-isolated cases tend to be syndromic and complex. We aimed to evaluate the results of perinatally diagnosed isolated PEV. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted between March 2015-March 2020. Women who presented for fetal anomaly screening or were referred due to any suspected fetal anomaly were subjected to detailed fetal anomaly scans and checked for the presence of PEV. Karyotype analysis was discussed for patients with PEV. Pregnancy termination was recommended for those with chromosomal/life-threatening anomalies. The diagnosis was confirmed by postnatal examination/autopsy. Postnatal diagnosis was accepted as false-positive in those with no PEV. Results: One-hundred thirty-eight patients were found to have PEV, 41 (29.7%) of which were isolated. In the isolated group, the false-positive rate in the first trimester was significantly higher compared with the second trimester, 50%/15.3%, respectively (p

The 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) occurs in ~1:3,000–6,000 individuals. Features less typically associated with 22q11.2DS, such as orthopedic manifestations, may be overlooked or may not lead to appropriate diagnostic testing. Club foot has a general population prevalence of ~1:1,000 and has been occasionally described in association with 22q11.2DS. Our hypothesis is that the prevalence of club foot is higher in patients with 22q11.2DS. We performed a retrospective review in two specialized 22q11.2DS centers to determine the prevalence of club foot. “True club foot” requires treatment (either conservative or surgical), therefore we only included those patients with proof of treatment. We investigated whether congenital heart disease (CHD) and/or cleft palate were associated with the presence of club foot within 22q11.2DS. The records of 1,466 patients were reviewed. Of these, 48 (3.3%) had confirmation of club foot (95% Confidence Interval: 2.4–4.3): 22 (46%) had a bilateral, 12 (25%) left, and 14 (29%) right club foot. Within our study, neither a CHD and/or a cleft palate were associated with a club foot. The prevalence of club foot in 22q11.2DS is 30 times higher than that observed in the general population. This suggests the diagnosis of club foot, especially in the face of other typically associated abnormalities of 22q11.2DS, should provoke consideration of 22q11.2DS as an underlying diagnosis, particularly in the neonatal setting.

Arno Kerling,1 Gisela Stoltenburg-Didinger,2 Lena Grams,1 Uwe Tegtbur,1 Hauke Horstmann,1 Momme Kück,1 Holger Mellerowicz3 1Institute of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; 2Gisela Stoltenburg-Didinger, Institute of Cell and Neurobiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin CCO, Berlin, Germany; 3Holger Mellerowicz, Clinic for Pediatric Orthopedics and Traumatology, Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring, Berlin, Germany Purpose: Congenital clubfoot is one of the most common limb disorders in humans and its etiology is still unclear. In order to better understand the pathogenesis of patients with primary clubfoot, we examined whether there are quantitative changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM; based on common interstitial collagens [C] like CI and CIII, microfilamentous collagens like CVI, noncollagenous proteins like undulin, and enzymes like matrixmetalloproteinase [MMP]-2 and tissue inhibitor of matrixmetalloproteinase [TIMP]-2 that are known to play a role in fibrogenesis and fibrolysis) of muscles involved in the foot deformity of patients with primary clubfoot corresponding to fibrosis. Patients and methods: Thirty patients (age ranging from 4 months to 5 years and 7 months) with primary clubfoot were examined (23 male and 7 female patients), among whom 18 patients were affected on one side and 12 affected on both sides. Twenty-five biopsies were taken during the first operative foot correction (Crawford–McKay) and 5 in the context of relapses. Muscle biopsies were taken from the muscles involved in the defect (Musculus [M.] gastrocnemius and M. tibialis anterior) and from the M. vastus lateralis of the M. quadriceps femoris, which were treated as healthy comparison muscles. Quantitative analysis of the components of the ECM was performed using a computer-assisted fibrosis measurement of the immunohistochemically processed tissue samples. Results: We found higher values for M. gastrocnemius for CI, CIII, CVI and undulin in comparison with M. vastus lateralis. However, values for TIMP-2 were reduced. We found no significant differences for the components of M. tibialis anterior and M. vastus lateralis. There were no quantitative differences between male and female or between patients affected on one side and both sides. In patients who underwent relapse surgery, CI, CIII, CVI, and undulin of the gastrocnemius were significantly higher, while TIMP-2 was significantly lower. Conclusion: In the present study, we found manifest fibrosis in gastrocnemius due to quantitative changes in the ECM. In contrast to other studies, we found increasing fibrosis not just in contracted tissues but also in the muscle itself. Further studies are needed to clarify whether these changes are primarily responsible for the malfunction or whether they occur secondarily in the consequence of the dysfunction. Keywords: pes equinovarus, clubfoot, extracellular matrix, fibrosis, collagens, TIMP-2

Objective: To assess the effects of written and visual briefing on parents' state and trait anxiety in newborns with newly diagnosed pes equinovarus (PEV) who were treated using the Ponseti method during the neonatal period. Materials and Methods: Eighty parents (mother and/or father) of neonatal PEV patients who were treated using Ponseti Method between September 2014 and July 2017were included in this study. Participants were assigned into two groups according to the written and visual briefing. Participants in both groups were asked to complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before the procedure. Then, written and visual briefing was given to the participants. All participants repeated the inventory after briefing to assess changes in state and trait anxiety. Results: After visual and written briefing, parents' response was evaluated. In both groups, a significant decline was observed in trait and state anxiety after both written and visual briefing (p

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a genetic syndrome characterized by hyperthermia, tachycardia, acidosis, and muscle rigidity, often triggered by depolarizing muscle relaxants such as volatile anesthetics and/or succinylcholine. MH usually develops following anesthesia induction, but may occur during and after a surgical intervention. A 4.5-year-old boy was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit considering MH due to persistent fever, tachycardia and end-tidal carbon dioxide elevation which developed during pes equinovarus surgery. In the follow-up, hypercapnia, fever and refractory metabolic acidosis recurred. Despite the administration of dantrolene sodium and supportive treatments, the patient died. This case is presented to remind the possibility of MH which may be fatal in patients receiving general anesthesia and to emphasize the follow-up and treatment of the patients with MH in pediatric intensive care unit.

Background Lower-limb spasticity can impair ambulation and gait, impacting quality of life. Objectives This ancillary analysis of the TOWER study ( NCT01603459 ) assessed the efficacy of incobotulinumtoxinA for lower-limb post-stroke spasticity including pes equinovarus. Methods Participants received escalating incobotulinumtoxinA doses (400–800 U) across 3 injection cycles. Changes were compared for those treated in the lower limb (with/without upper-limb treatment) or the upper limb only or for participants treated or untreated for pes equinovarus. Outcome measures were those used in the seminal study: resistance to passive movement scale (REPAS), Ashworth Scale (AS), functional ambulation and lower-limb goal attainment. Results Among 132/155 (85%) participants with post-stroke spasticity, in cycles 1, 2 and 3, 99, 119 and 121 participants received lower-limb treatment with mean (SD) total limb incobotulinumtoxinA doses of 189.2 (99.2), 257.1 (115.0) and 321.3 (129.2) U, respectively. Of these, 80, 105 and 107, respectively, were treated for pes equinovarus. The mean (SD) improvement in REPAS lower-limb score was greater with treatment in the lower limb versus the upper limb only: –1.6 (2.1) versus–0.4 (1.4); –1.9 (1.9) versus –0.6 (1.6); –2.2 (2.2) versus –1.0 (0.0) (P = 0.0005, P = 0.0133 and P = 0.3581; analysis of covariance [ANCOVA], between-group differences) in cycles 1, 2 and 3, respectively. For all cycles, the mean improvement in ankle joint AS score from injection to 4 weeks post-treatment was greater for participants treated versus not treated for pes equinovarus, with a significant between-group difference in cycle 1 (P = 0.0099; ANCOVA). At the end of cycle 3, 42% of participants walked independently and 63% achieved 2 of 2 lower-limb treatment goals (baseline 23% and 34%, respectively). Conclusions This study supports the efficacy of incobotulinumtoxinA for treatment of pes equinovarus and other patterns of lower-limb post-stroke spasticity.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome is a genetic disorder with multiple system abnormalities. It is especially characterized by typical facial appearance and hirsutism. Growth and mental retardation, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and orthopedic abnormalities are other important features of this syndrome. In this case, we present a rare manifestation of Cornelia de Lange syndrome with a unilateral pes equinovarus deformity without other more specific orthopedic manifestations. Ponseti method's was applied as the initial procedure. Afterwards, complete subtalar release was performed. After four years follow-up, clinical and radiological results were satisfactory. Unilateral pes equinovarus deformity may be a part of this syndrome as well as a sporadic presentation. The discrimination is important for anesthetic procedures and surgical outcomes.

The treatment of severe rigid neurogenic clubfoot deformities still remains a challenging problem in modern paediatric orthopaedics. In those cases, in spite of being a palliative procedure, talectomy has been advocated for the correction of the deformity thus providing a stable plantigrade foot which allows pain-free walking with standard footwear. Herein, we present the results after talectomy in two patients (brother and sister) affected by a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I, with rigid severe pes equinovarus deformities.

Understanding the pathoanatomy of severe recurrent clubfoot and its implication on treatment options is important for the successful treatment. A comprehensive clinical evaluation of the different components helps in selecting procedures. Individual needs and social and psychological factors influencing treatment and the impact of treatment on the child have to be considered. With increasing dissemination and improved understanding of the Ponseti method, a further decrease in the frequency of severe recurrent clubfoot can be hoped for and expected.

Item does not contain fulltext Importance: Gait impairments are common in patients with chronic supratentorial upper motor neuron lesions and are a source of disability. Clinical management aimed at improving the gait pattern in these patients is generally perceived as a challenging task because many possible abnormalities may interact. Moreover, a multitude of treatment options exist, ranging from assistive devices and muscle stretching to pharmacologic and surgical interventions, but evidence is inconclusive for most approaches and clear treatment guidelines are lacking. Observations: Gait deviations in adults with a chronic supratentorial upper motor neuron lesion can approximately be reduced to the following 3 groups of primary deficits: (1) imbalance of muscle strength, length, and activity around the ankle and tarsal joints leading to pes equinovarus or pes equinus; (2) calf muscle weakness; and (3) overactivity of proximal leg muscles. Conclusions and Relevance: A stepwise treatment algorithm emphasizes medical-technical interventions, which are based on evidence when available and otherwise reflect practice-based experience.

We report the follow-up of a neonate with Pes equinovarus et adductus due to diastrophic dysplasia. The feet have been treated operatively by lengthening of the calcaneal tendon after initial redressement and casting. The normalized position is maintained by means of an removable plastic cast and later an instep raiser. Instructions for the maintenance are given.

Only few studies exist regarding the risk of a teratogenic effect of tramadol when used in early pregnancy. Using the Swedish Medical Birth Register, women (deliveries in 1997-2013) who had reported the use of tramadol in early pregnancy were identified. Maternal characteristics and concomitant drug use were analyzed. Among 1,682,846 women (1,797,678 infants), 1751 (1776 infants) had used tramadol, 96 of the infants had a congenital malformation and 70 of them were relatively severe. The adjusted odds ratio for a relatively severe malformation was 1.33 (95% CI 1.05-1.70). The odds ratios for cardiovascular defects (1.56, 95% CI 1.04-2.29) and for pes equinovarus (3.63, 95% CI 1.61-6.89) were significantly increased. The study suggests a teratogenic effect of tramadol but the risk increase is moderate. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ein Sehnentransfer stellt bei leicht redressierbarem Pes equinovarus die operative Methode der Wahl dar. Bei lang bestehender Fehlstellung und Spastik lasst sich damit eine plantigrade Stellung nicht retinieren. Wir fuhrten in einem ausgepragten beidseitigen Fall daher zusatzlich Korrekturtriplearthrodesen durch. Eine 55-jahrige Patientin war im Rahmen mehrfacher HWS-Operationen tetraspastisch geworden und hatte beidseits hochgradige Pes equinovarus und Kniebeugekontrakturen entwickelt. Die Patientin konnte sich insgesamt 3 Jahre lang nur im Rollstuhl fortbewegen. Wir fuhrten im Abstand von 1 Jahr jeweils einseitig einen Weichteilrelease, Z-Plastik der Achillessehne, Korrekturtriplearthrodese und Tibialis-posterior-Sehnentransfer durch. Bei der Nachuntersuchung 5 Jahre nach der letzten Operation war die nun 61-jahrige im 4-Punkte-Gang mit 2 Unterarmgehstutzen gehfahig. Im gezeigten Fall konnte bei hochgradigem Pes equinovarus bei Spastik durch eine Triplearthrodese die mit Weichteilrelease erreichte Redression soweit stabilisiert werden, dass mit einem Tibialis-posterior-Sehnentransfer die plantigrade Stellung des Fuses kontrolliert werden konnte.

Idiopathic pes equinovarus is a congenital deformity of the foot and lower leg defined as a fixation of the foot in adduction, supination, and varus. Although the pathogenesis of clubfoot remains unclear, it has been suggested that fibroblasts and growth factors are involved. To directly analyze the protein composition of the extracellular matrix in contracted tissue of patients with clubfoot. A total of 13 infants with idiopathic clubfoot treated with the Ponseti method were included in the present study. Tissue samples were obtained from patients undergoing surgery for relapsed clubfeet. Contracted tissues were obtained from the medial aspect of the talonavicular joint. Protein was extracted after digestion and delipidation using zip-tip C18. Individual collagenous fractions were detected using a chemiluminescent assay. Amino acid analysis of tissue samples revealed a predominance of collagens, namely collagen types I, III, and VI. The high content of glycine and h-proline suggests a predominance of collagens I and III. A total of 19 extracellular matrix proteins were identified. The major result of the present study was the observation that the extracellular matrix in clubfoot is composed of an additional 16 proteins, including collagens V, VI, and XII, as well as the previously described collagen types I and III and transforming growth factor β. The characterization of the general protein composition of the extracellular matrix in various regions of clubfoot may help in understanding the pathogenesis of this anomaly and, thus, contribute to the development of more efficacious therapeutic approaches.

Glycine encephalopathy is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disease characterized by glycine accumulation in body fluids owing to a defect in the glycine cleavage system. There are several forms of glycine encephalopathy. In the classic or neonatal form, symptoms usually develop as neurologic symptoms in the first few days of life. It characteristically presents with hypotonia, lethargy, apnea, and seizures and usually results in death by 1 year of age. Inthisreport,wepresenttwocasesofneonatalglycine encephalopathy accompanied by isolated pes equinovarus deformity. ( J Child Neurol 2005;20:533—535).

Other foot deformities than pes equinovarus (n=851) were analyzed in order to find similarities and differences with pes equinovarus. The only clear-cut effect of maternal characteristics was a higher risk at parity 1 than at higher parities. There was a suggested association with a period of unwanted childlessness and with maternal use of gestagens. The effect high maternal age, maternal smoking and high BMI was significantly lower than for pes equinovarus. The ”protective” effect of mother being born outside Sweden seen for pes equinovarus was absent for other foot defects. The effect of opioids seen on pes equinovarus was not evident for other foot defects but the two risk estimates did not differ significantly.

Pes equinovarus is a congenital disease that can be successfully treated with serial casting and percutaneous achillotomy at the newborn stage in most of the cases. Complex surgical interventions are required for patients presenting at advanced age for correction of this deformity. The main problem encountered in the treatment for neglected pes equinovarus cases is repairing the posteromedial skin defect of the ankle due to surgical correction of this deformity. The sural flap is frequently used in the repair of a number of skin defects on the ankles, although reports on the use of this flap in pes equinovarus surgery are scarce. In this article, the technical details of sural flap application in cases with neglected pes equinovarus and the preliminary results of three extremities treated with this method have been presented.

Objectives To evaluate prenatal ultrasound detection of talipes equinovarus (TEV) in a large non-selected population and to study trends in detection rates over time, as well as the prevalence and outcome of isolated TEV and TEV with associated anomalies. Methods All cases of pre- or postnatally diagnosed TEV between 1987 and 2004 within a non-selected population of 49 314 deliveries were investigated. The study period was divided into three 6-year periods to shed light on changes in detection rates and other aspects of the anomaly over time. Results A total of 113 cases of TEV were registered during the 18-year period, of which 49% had isolated TEV and 51% had associated anomalies. During the three 6-year periods, there was a significant improvement (P = 0.006) in the overall detection of TEV from 43% to 67% and 77%, respectively. The detection rate for isolated TEV increased over time. Isolated bilateral TEV cases were detected more than twice as often as isolated unilateral TEV. The three largest groups of associated anomalies were syndromes/sequences (26%), chromosome aberrations (26%), and musculoskeletal disorders (24%). Pregnancies were terminated in 23% of the cases, all with severe additional anomalies. Treatment of TEV included surgery in 86% of the cases. Conclusion The overall detection rate of TEV improved significantly over time. Prenatal detection was higher when TEV was bilateral and when other associated anomalies were present. Parents should be informed that, in suspected isolated TEV, associated anomalies might remain undetected prenatally. Copyright  2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We performed anterior transfer of the toe flexors in 5 patients (5 feet) with pes equinovarus. Two cases were due to cerebral palsy and two were due to peroneal palsy and one was caused by drop foot resulting from a venomous snake bite (Habu).The follow-up period ranged from 1 year and 6 months to 2 years and 6 months, with an average of 2 years and 2 months. Four feet were judged to achieve good correction, one foot had a slight pes equinos deformity. On walking, all 5 patients were satisfied with their results physically and mentally.This method was found to be effective for drop foot resulting from a venomous snake bite (Habu).

Fifty cases of clubfeet (38 children) were evaluated 10 years after surgery. Turco's method was used in 22 cases, while 24 were managed with Achilles tendon lengthening and dorsal capsulotomy. After Turco's operation, good results were achieved in 69% and the deformity recurred in 31%. In the second group, the success rate was 63%. Recurrences are due to insufficient reduction of the talocalcaneonavicular joint. The authors conclude that Achilles tendon lengthening and posterior capsulotomy should be carried out by age 4 months. If by the age of 1 year the foot has not yet assumed its normal position, complete operative reduction is recommended. Preliminary results of histochemical studies of the peroneal muscles are presented.

An infant with skeletal deformities and hypocalcemic convulsions is described. The convulsions, which were first noted in the 5th week of life, as well as the low serum calcium level were transient. The skeletal deformities consisted of deformation of the terminal phalanges of the right third finger and right second toe, syndactyly of the third and fourth finger of both hands and left pes equinovarus. X-ray examination revealed abnormal shape and structure of some bones of the hands. The most likely diagnosis is transient congenital idiopathic hypopara-thyroidism, which has not yet been described in association with congenital skeletal anomalies.