Anterior tibial tendon transfer in idiopathic clubfoot: does the outcome differ with the initial treatment? Proposed classification to surgical indication.

PURPOSE: To establish parameters and propose a radiographic classification for foot adduction/supination deformities to assist the indication of Garceau procedure. Secondly, to investigate whether the outcome of Garceau surgery depends on the initial treatment used, peritalar release, or the Ponseti method, and verify the maintenance of correction until skeletal maturity. METHODS: Prospective cohort study, with follow-up evaluations in 2009 and 2019. Fifty-three consecutive patients (71 feet) with idiopathic congenital clubfoot (ICCF) were divided into two groups according to the initial treatment used: peritalar release (group I) or Ponseti method (group II). All patients underwent Garceau procedure. The patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically using the American Orthopedic Foot Association (AOFAS) score for ankle and hindfoot. A radiographic classification is proposed based on the adduction by talo-first metatarsal angle on dorsoplantar view and supination by the elevation of the head of the first metatarsal on lateral view, both weight-bearing. RESULTS: In the first clinical evaluation, the mean score on the AOFAS was 87 points in group I and 86 points in group II. In the second evaluation, group I had mean AOFAS of 92 points and group II of 94 points. No statistical differences were found between the two groups, neither between the first and the second evaluation. In the radiographic evaluation, the adduction deformity obtained an average correction of 4° in group I and 3.6° in group II; in supination deformity, the average depression of the first metatarsal head in relation to the ground was 6.7 mm in group I and 7.5 mm in group II, with no statistical difference between the two evaluations, indicating the correction was maintained until skeletal maturity. CONCLUSION: Garceau transfer is capable of correcting residual deformities in adduction/supination of mild and moderate degrees, regardless of the initial treatment, and maintaining the correction until skeletal maturity. The proposed radiographic classification might help to objectively indicate the surgical procedure.