[Treatment results of Imhäuser's method of treating neonatal clubfeet]. / Behandlungsergebnisse des Neugeborenenklumpfusses nach Imhäuser.

ABSTRACT

The results of treatment of newborn clubfoot are reported 6 years and 3 months after operation. 88 children with 123 clubfeet were treated beginning at the neonatal period with redressment and casting followed by achillotenotomy and dorsomedial and dorsolateral capsulolysis of the talocrural and talocalcaneal joints at 4 to 7 months of age. After that a strict protocol of physiotherapy, orthetics and controlling was used. For clinical and radiological assessment the criteriasof Magone (40) and Simons (51, 52) were used. The significance of parental cooperation was analysed. At follow-up the result was good or acceptable in 83.7% according to clinical findings and 43.6% according radiology respectively. There was obviously no correlation of clinical and radiological findings. The mobility of the ankle joint proved to be important regarding the functional result, especially in cases with flat-top-talus it has been limited. Parenteral cooperation is of special importance for good results in clubfoot-therapy.