Foot-Progression Angle in Clubfeet

Abstract

Foot-progression angle was determined using the Shutrack carbon paper system for 52 feet treated by clubfoot release without wide subtalar release and 43 age-matched controls. Mean foot progression angle was -5 degrees for the clubfeet. This represented 13 degrees of inturning from the normal mean of 8 degrees. Forty-eight percent of the clubfeet had inturning greater than 2 SD from the normal mean. The causes of inturning included adductus (p = 0.005) and, in some cases, internal tibial torsion or internal femoral torsion. Varus of the foot was usually associated with inturning, but inturning was not always associated with varus.