300 neonatal clubfeet evaluated at birth: statistical analysis

Abstract

Aim - to study the initial parameters of clubfeetbefore treatment, to analyze clubfoot population.— Materials and methods. The research includes196 neonates with a total of 300 clubfeet. All feetwere initially evaluated during the first day of life.Patients with myelomeningocele, arthrogr yposisand other syndromes were not included. The initialclubfoot severity was evaluated according to Piraniand Dimeglio scales. Patients with Dimeglio I and IItypes of clubfeet were excluded from the study. Thefollowing criteria were analyzed: gender, unilateralor bilateral involvement, family history and prenatalclubfoot visualization.— Results and conclusions. Female/male ratio was1 : 2,16. Unilateral/bilateral clubfoot ratio was 1 : 1,13.Left side/right side ratio in unilateral clubfoot groupwas 1 : 1,79. Family history was positive in 24 of196 patients (12,2 %). Clubfoot was prenatally detected in 98 patients (50 %). Most of clubfeet had Dimeglio III type (88 %) and only 12 % were Dimeglio IV. In bilateral cases the right foot was more severely affected than the left one in 64 % of the patients. 48 clubfeet in 34 patients were evaluated at birth and on 7th day of life provided no treatment was performed. The deformity increased significantly in 100 % of cases. Clubfoot was more often observed among boys. In cases of unilateral clubfoot it is the right foot that is involved more often than the left one. Most patients do not have any family history of clubfoot. The most severe clubfoot type (Dimeglio IV) was found much more rarely than Dimeglio III. The clubfoot severity progressed significantly in all the affected feet during the first week of life.