In 2010, we published results of Ponseti versus primary posteromedial release (PMR) for congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) in 51 prospective patients. This study reports outcomes at a median of 15 years from original treatment.

We followed 51 patients at a median of 15 years (range 13–17 years) following treatment of CTEV with either Ponseti method (25 patients; 38 feet) or PMR (26 patients; 42 feet). Thirty-eight patientsd were contacted and 33 participated in clinical review (65%), comprising patient reported outcomes, clinical examination, 3-D gait analysis and plantar pressures.

Sixteen of 38 Ponseti treated feet (42%) and 20 of 42 PMR treated feet (48%) had undergone further surgery. The PMR treated feet were more likely to have osteotomies and intra- articular surgeries (16 vs 5 feet, p<0.05). Of the 33 patients reviewed with multimodal assessment, the Ponseti group demonstrated better scores on the Dimeglio (5.8 vs 7.0, p<0.05), the Disease Specific Instrument (80 vs 65.6, p<0.05), the Functional Disability Inventory (1.1 vs 5.0, p<0.05) and the AAOS Foot & Ankle Questionnaire (52.2 vs. 46.6, p < 0.05), as well as improved total sagittal ankle range of motion in gait, ankle plantarflexion range at toe off and calf power generation. The primary PMR group displayed higher lateral midfoot and forefoot pressures.

Whilst numbers of repeat surgical interventions following Ponseti treatment and primary PMR were similar, the PMR treated feet had greater numbers of osteotomies and intra-articular surgeries. Outcomes were improved at a median of 15 years for functional data for the Ponseti method versus PMR, with advantages seen in the Ponseti group over several domains. This study provides the most comprehensive evaluation of outcomes close to skeletal maturity in prospective cohorts, reinforcing the Ponseti Method as the initial treatment of choice for idiopathic clubfeet

Aims

To systematically review the efficacy of split tendon transfer surgery on gait-related outcomes for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and spastic equinovarus foot deformity.

Unrecognized pin penetrance in the treatment of SCFE by percutaneous pinning has been shown to be under-reported with serious long-term sequelae. The purpose of this study was to use post-operative CT to determine the true position of the screw tip when compared to intra-operative x-rays.

Twenty-four patients were offered post operative CT scans in the acute and clinic setting. Intra-operative plain films (AP and lateral) were compared to post operative CT scans (coronal and axial) to determine

the distance of the screw tip from the particular surface of the hip joint,

The positions of a total of 38 screws were measured. Plain x-rays where shown to consistently underestimate the distance to the articular surface. There were significant differences in the distance to the articular surface in the AP (5.5 mm) vs. coronal (3.4 mm) and lateral (4.7 mm) and vs. axial CT (4.1 mm) planes (p < 0.01). The average number of screw threads across the articular surface on the lateral x-ray was 6.7 vs. 8.1 in the coronal CT (p< 0.05). Four of the screws were shown to penetrate the joint surface in CT not shown on plain film.

This study has found that CT scans show screws are closer to the joint surface in the axial and coronal plane on CT when compared to plain x-ray in the AP and lateral plane. CT scans also show that there are more screw threads across the epiphysis than shown on plain x-ray. Placement of the screw within specific quadrants of the femoral head was found to be similar on CT and x-ray. CT scans identified pin penetrance not seen on intra-operative images.

Cerebral palsy (CP) results from an injury to the immature brain; and it leads to progressive musculoskeletal (MS) impairment in most affected patients. Orthopaedic surgery involving muscle-tendon lengthening is a method for managing short muscles in CP patients. Knowledge of muscle length prior to surgery is beneficial to surgical success. However, using common assessment methods like 3D gait analysis or physical examination, accurate pre-surgery estimation of muscle lengths during walking is difficult.

Computer models of the lower limbs, which provide more insight into muscle functioning during walking, have become increasingly important within the research field of CP. MS models are commonly driven by joint kinematics from clinical gait analysis. The most often used MS model in CP related research is based on the geometry of an adult human man with muscles modelled as line segments. This approach might be reasonable for small muscles with well-defined paths; however, for long muscles with multiple attachment points and curved paths, a more realistic 3D muscle model is required.

The aim of this study is the development of a clinical assessment tool for CP patients by incorporating kinematic data from gait analysis into a 3D finite-element MS model of the lower limbs. Ethical approval has been obtained to develop subject-specific MS models of 12 children with CP and 12 control children (age 8 – 12 years) based on magnetic resonance images. Kinematic data from 3D gait analysis is used as input data to transform the bony structures. Soft-tissue muscle deformation is modelled according to a variant of free-form deformation called the Host-Mesh Fitting Technique. So far, MS models of the lower limbs of three control children and of one child with CP were developed. The resulting muscle length changes during walking agree reasonably well with published data. The proposed modelling approach together with the library of 24 MS models will enable us to develop a powerful tool to investigate gait of children with CP.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the functional outcome of different limb salvage procedures for osteosarcoma about the knee.

A selection of patients who have undergone limb salvage procedures for osteosarcoma about the knee were invited to join the study. Medical and operation notes were reviewed along with recent radiographs of the involved limb. Patients completed the Musculoskeletal Tumour Society functional questionnaire and underwent a gait analysis assessing walking and running. Most patients had stage 2B osteosarcoma involving either the proximal tibia or distal femur. Limb salvage procedures included arthrodesis, allograft reconstruction, endoprosthesis and rotationplasty.

All patients scored highly (> 70 %) on the MSTS questionnaire except the arthrodesis that scored 57 %. The gait analysis revealed some subtle changes with a quadriceps-sparing gait in the endoprosthesis, mild foot drop in the proximal tibial allograft and a lateral lean of the trunk over the ipsilateral limb in the rotationplasty. The arthrodesis had an obvious straight leg gait with subtle pelvic hiking to assist foot clearance. While analysis of walking was close to normal most patients were unable to obtain a double float and run.

This study shows that limb salvage procedures tailored to each individual case can result in an excellent functional outcome with close to normal gait and high MSTS scores.