Histological abnormalities of the calcaneum in congenital talipes equinovarus

Six calcaneal fragments from patients aged 2, 3, 4, and 5 years with relapsed talipes, and two normal feet from a 40-week-old stillborn fetus were studied. All tissue was sectioned in the sagittal or coronal plane and stained using alcian blue and sirius red to distinguish cartilage and bone. Immunocytochemistry was performed to illustrate collagen types I and II. Within the clubfoot calcaneum, there were fewer chondrocytes and a diminished number of cartilage canals. Although a growth plate was present, the zones of differentiated chondrocytes were not apparent and the chondrocytes were smaller and flatter. The alcian blue staining within the spherical physis was paler than normal, suggesting that the amount of extracellular proteoglycans was reduced. Overall, the growth plate region of the talipes calcaneum resembled that of a permanent cartilage, like articular cartilage. Abnormalities were also seen in the ossification center. Cartilage spicules were rare, and developing bone frequently abutted directly onto the growth plate cartilage. The relative absence of a primary spongiosa suggested that the physis was virtually inactive and endochondral bone formation was retarded. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that an intrinsic primary growth disorder causes the formation of a small hypoplastic bone and, subsequently, a smaller foot. Received: February 21, 2001 / Accepted: June 12, 2001     

The management of congenital talipes equinovarus in developing countries

Summary Congenital Talipes Equinovarus often remains untreated in developing countries. At our Institute in Calcutta, where we have modern facilities, a programme was undertaken using simple techniques in selected cases. Since 1964, 5,312 cases of congenital talipes equinovarus were treated by percutaneous elongation of the Achilles tendon, plantar fasciotomy and corrective plasters. In 4,502 cases the results are good enough to recommend this technique, even in developed countries.

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Résumé Le pied bot varus équin congénital est souvent négligé dans les pays en voie de développement. Dans notre Institut de Calcutta, où nous disposons d'un équipement moderne, nous avons entrepris un programme utilisant des techniques simples, adressées à des cas sélectionnés. Depuis 1964, 5312 pieds bots ont été traités par allongement percutané du tendon d'Achille, fasciotomie plantaire et plâtres de correction. Les résultats sont suffisamment bons dans 4502 cas pour que l'on puisse recommander cette méthode, même dans les pays industrialisés.

     

The inter-relationship of clinical parameters in congenital talipes equinovarus: relevance to pathological anatomy and clinical classification

Background  

The clinical features that define congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) are the presence of four principal components, equinus, varus, adductus and cavus. Classification systems in CTEV often include a form of assessment of these components and also other concurrent clinical parameters which feature in the condition.     

微型三维万向外用骨支架治疗婴幼儿先天性马蹄内翻足

2005年1月-2009年1月,我科应用微型三维万向外用骨支架治疗婴幼儿先天性马蹄内翻足20例,效果良好。1材料与方法1.1病例资料本组20例（35足）,男15例,女5例,年龄7个月-3岁,其中7个月-1岁9例,1岁1个月-2岁7例,2岁1个月-3岁4例。     

改进的胫后肌前移术治疗垂足畸形(附17例报告)

目的 研究关于提高麻痹性马蹄内翻足畸形疗效的新术式。方法 从1989年至现在,由作者设计的新术式治疗17例麻痹性马蹄足内翻畸形。该术式是将前移的胫骨后肌腱缝合到腓骨长肌腱的远端。结果 在全部病例中随访12个月～10年,这新术式的疗效是满意的。原有足畸形基本上被矫正。足背屈肌在抗重力达到Ⅲ～Ⅳ级。结论 本术式操作简单、易于掌握,是治疗麻痹性马蹄内翻足畸形的一种新方法。     

Management issues of congenital talipes equinovarus in the neonatal intensive care unit: A systematic review

BackgroundThe Ponseti method is the standard of care for managing idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) in the outpatient setting, but there are no clinical guidelines for inpatient treatment. Children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with clubfoot often delay treatment initiation due to medical reasons.MethodsWe systematically reviewed literature related to the treatment of clubfoot in the NICU, non-idiopathic clubfoot, and older infants, as well as barriers to care.ResultsIn a mixed NICU population of syndromic and idiopathic clubfoot, the Ponseti method has good functional outcomes with minimal interference with medical management. The Ponseti method has good functional outcomes with reduced need for extensive surgical procedures in non-idiopathic clubfoot and idiopathic clubfoot with delayed presentation (under one year of age).ConclusionsIt is possible to begin Ponseti treatment in the NICU without compromising medical management. It is not clear if this confers an advantage over waiting for outpatient casting.     

Ilizarov技术矫正儿童僵硬型马蹄内翻足畸形

[目的]探讨Ilizarov技术矫正僵硬性马蹄内翻足畸形的方法和效果。[方法]作者在2000年3月～2005年3月间，使用Ilizarov技术矫正9例11足重度僵硬性马蹄内翻足畸形，将连接于胫骨、跟骨、跖骨的外固定环互相连接、组合成复杂的三维外固定架，通过逐渐调整外固定架矫正畸形，从而使患足达到或接近正常足的外形和功能。[结果]按Garceau标准评定疗效，优6足，良4足，差1足。[结论]Ilizarov外固定架三维矫正马蹄内翻足畸形效果确实，尤其适用于大年龄儿童之僵硬、复发或难治性马蹄内翻足，有一定的临床应用价值。     

改良Ilizarov技术结合有限手术矫正马蹄内翻足畸形

[目的]探讨Ilizarov技术矫正马蹄内翻足畸形的手术方法及器械改良、术后管理方法的改进及疗效。[方法]2003年1月～2006年5月，根据Ilizarov张力应力法则，应用秦泗河改良的外固定矫形器，遵循Ilizarov穿针固定的基本原则，共手术治疗马蹄内翻足32例，男15例，女17例；年龄10～25岁，平均17岁。病因：腓总神经损伤2例，腰椎管内肿瘤1例，硬脊膜膨出5例，小儿麻痹后遗症11例，先天性马蹄内翻足13例。术前用足掌的前外缘负重行走者11例，用足的外缘或足背外侧负重者21例。根据马蹄内翻足畸形程度、性质和患者年龄，确定实施有限矫形手术的方法和外固定矫形器治疗。本组7例同期实施有限的软组织松解术，25例同期实施了有限的截骨术和跗骨间关节融合术，9例合并踝关节内外翻肌力明显失衡者，同期行足部肌腱转移的肌力平衡术。然后安装外固定矫形器。术后按作者制定的管理程序，7d开始旋转相应的螺纹牵拉杆，对器械进行三维空间的缓慢调整，先矫正前足内收和后足内翻，后矫正足下垂畸形，直至达到矫形要求的标准。在矫形的过程中定期进行X线检测，以防止发生踝关节前后移位，治疗期间允许患足负重行走。术后平均牵伸42d，拆外固定器后患足再上石膏固定适当时间。[结论]32例患者术后均获得随访，其中26例为来院复查。随访时间1年～3年1个月，平均1年5个月。畸形均获满意矫正，足持重行走功能良好，患者满意。本组无1例发生严重针道感染和切口感染，未并发踝关节脱位及血管、神经损伤等并发症。[结论]改良Ilizarov技术矫正马蹄内翻足畸形，手术创伤小、安全，治疗效果提高，配合有限矫形手术，能够矫正传统矫形手术难以治疗的严重足畸形，缩短治疗周期，避免了严重手术并发症。     

Reliability and validity of the Finnish version of the Visual Analogue Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS-FA)

Background

There have previously been no validated foot and ankle-specific patient-reported outcome measures in Finnish.

改良Charnley关节夹在马蹄内外翻足截骨融合术中的应用

目的 观察改良Ｃｈａｒｎｌｅｙ关节夹在马蹄内外翻足截骨融合术中的应用效果。方法 采用改良Ｃｈａｒｎｌｅｙ关节夹固定足跗二关节，三关节截骨融合术治疗４５例５２足。结果 随访３９例４３足，随访时间１１个月￣７年３个月。平均３年５个月，４３足全部骨性融合，４２足外观基本正常，恢复三点负重，步态平稳。优良率９５％，结论 该方法操作简单，观察方便，效果满意。     

Development of a German version of the Oswestry Disability Index. Part 1: cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity

Patient-orientated assessment methods are of paramount importance in the evaluation of treatment outcome. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is one of the condition-specific questionnaires recommended for use with back pain patients. To date, no German version has been published in the peer-reviewed literature. A cross-cultural adaptation of the ODI for the German language was carried out, according to established guidelines. One hundred patients with chronic low-back pain (35 conservative, 65 surgical) completed a questionnaire booklet containing the newly translated ODI, along with a 0-10 pain visual analogue scale (VAS), the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, and Likert scales for disability, medication intake and pain frequency [to assess ODI's construct (convergent) validity]. Thirty-nine of these patients completed a second questionnaire within 2 weeks (to assess test-retest reliability). The intraclass correlation coefficient for the test-retest reliability of the questionnaire was 0.96. In test-retest, 74% of the individual questions were answered identically, and 21% just one grade higher or lower. The standard error of measurement (SEM) was 3.4, giving a "minimum detectable change" (MDC(95%)) for the ODI of approximately 9 points, i.e. the minimum change in an individual's score required to be considered "real change" (with 95% confidence) over and above measurement error. The ODI scores correlated with VAS pain intensity (r = 0.78, P < 0.001) and Roland Morris scores (r = 0.80, P < 0.001). The mean baseline ODI scores differed significantly between the surgical and conservative patients (P < 0.001), and between the different categories of the Likert scales for disability, medication use and pain frequency (in each case P < 0.001). Our German version of the Oswestry questionnaire is reliable and valid, and shows psychometric characteristics as good as, if not better than, the original English version. It should represent a valuable tool for use in future patient-orientated outcome studies in German-speaking lands.     

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Foot Function Index to Spanish

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to adapt and validate the Foot Function Index to the Spanish (FFI-Sp) following the guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.MethodsA cross-sectional study 80 participants with some foot pathology. A statistical analysis was made, including a correlation study with other questionnaires (the Foot Health Status Questionnaire, EuroQol 5-D, Visual Analogue Pain Scale, and the Short Form SF-12 Health Survey). Data analysis included reliability, construct and criterion-related validity and factor analyses.ResultsThe principal components analysis with varimax rotation produced 3 principal factors that explained 80% of the variance. The confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit with a comparative fit index of 0.78. The FFI-Sp demonstrated excellent internal consistency on the three subscales: pain 0.95; disability 0.96; and activity limitation 0.69, the subscale that scored lowest. The correlation between the FFI-Sp and the other questionnaires was high to moderate.ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the Foot Function Index (FFI-Sp) is a tool that is a valid and reliable tool with a very good internal consistency for use in the assessment of pain, disability and limitation of the function of the foot, for use both in clinic and research.     

Cross cultural adaptation,reliability and validity of the Greek version of Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) questionnaire

BackgroundThe objectives of our study were to develop the Greek version of the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) questionnaire and to evaluate its psychometric properties.MethodsThe IdFAI was translated and adapted into Greek according to the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of self report measures. It was tested for test-retest reliability, validity, internal consistency and floor-ceiling effects in 141 participants (54 males, 87 females; 23.5 ± 7.2 years). All participants were asked to fill the Greek IdFAI (IdFAI-GR), the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), in order to determine construct validity. To determine the test-retest reliability, fifty randomly selected individuals re-filled IdFAI seven days after the first session.ResultsThe IdFAI-GR had high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.94) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC_2,1 = 0.97; SEM = 0.7). The IdFAI-GR had strong correlation with the CAIT (r = 0.7; p < 0.001) and moderate correlation with the LEFS (r = 0.5; p < 0.001). No ceiling or floor effects were observed.ConclusionThe Greek IdFAI questionnaire has proven to be a valid and reliable instrument to identify functional ankle instability. It can therefore, be used for both clinical and research purposes in Greek-speaking individuals.     

先天性马蹄内翻足以胫后肌外移为主的手术治疗长期随访结果

先天性马蹄内翻足是足部常见畸形,病因不明,但有学者认为肌发育不良而引起的肌力不平衡是本病的主要原因[1～4].导致肌力失衡的软组织挛缩包括胫后肌腱、跟腱、足的内在肌、内侧跗跖关节囊、胫前肌,三角韧带及跟舟韧带等,其中胫后肌腱是造成马蹄内翻足的主要因素之一.自1988年12月以来,共手术治疗先天性马蹄内翻足病人41例60足,均采用胫后肌外移为主的矫正手术,取得了良好的效果.     

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Norwegian version of the spinal stenosis measure

In order to satisfy the need of a tool for assessing the treatment of patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, an evaluation was made of the reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness of the Norwegian version of Spinal Stenosis Measure (SSM, original by Stucki)). This study was a part of a prospective, cohort study. About 75 patients referred for surgery for spinal stenosis participated in the study. A subsample of 30 patients answered the questionnaire twice, test and retest, with at least one week in between. The SSM was translated according to the Guillemin criteria. Reliability was assessed by Bland and Altman’s repeatability, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the coefficient of variance (CV). Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha. Construct validity was analysed by correlation analyses. Responsiveness was calculated by the effect size. The reliability between test and retest scores was good for all three subscales of SSM as the ICC-values were above 0.9 and the CVs were below 15%. Cronbach’s alpha was above 0.8. The correlation analyses showed high correlation between scales that assessed the same construct, and low to moderate correlation between scales that assessed different constructs. Large effect sizes were found in all the SSM subscales with effect sizes ≥1.2.The Norwegian SSM version has added a highly useful tool for assessing the disease specific status and outcome after treatment in patients who suffer from degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.     

Reliability and validity of the Health Outcomes Burn Questionnaire for infants and children in The Netherlands

The Health Outcomes Burn Questionnaire (HOBQ) is a self-administered questionnaire to monitor outcome after burns in young children. This study aimed to assess feasibility, reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the HOBQ. The HOBQ was adapted into Dutch and tested in a population of children aged 0-4 years with a primary admission to a Dutch burn centre in March 2001-February 2004. Parents of 413 children were sent a questionnaire. To assess validity, a generic outcome instrument was included, the Infant Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (ITQOL). The response rate was 50.0% (n=196). Mean self-reported completion time was 16.7 min. The internal consistency of all the HOBQ-scales was good (Cronbach's alpha's>0.69). Test-retest results showed no differences in 7 out of 10 scales. High correlations between HOBQ-scales and conceptually equivalent ITQOL and scales were found in 5 out of 7 comparisons. The majority of the HOBQ-scales (7 out of 10) showed significant differences in the expected direction between children with a long versus short length of stay. Our data support the reliability and validity of the Dutch HOBQ. The HOBQ can be used as a research tool, to monitor functional outcome after burns in young children. Further research in other samples is recommend to fully establish the reliability and validity of the HOBQ.     

Translation,cross-cultural adaptation,and psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI-THAI) questionnaire

BackgroundThis study developed a Thai version of the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI-THAI) questionnaire.MethodsTo determine construct validity, 200 participants with a history of lateral ankle sprain completed the IdFAI-THAI, the Modified Thai Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), the Visual Analog Scale of Instability (VAS-I), and the Thai Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM). Eight days later, 100 randomly selected participants refilled the IdFAI-THAI to assess test-retest reliability and internal consistency.ResultsThe IdFAI-THAI moderate correlated with the LEFS (r_s = ?0.62), the VAS-I (r_s = 0.62), and the FAAM (r_s = ?0.63 and ?0.69 for the activities of daily living and sports subscales, respectively). The IdFAI-THAI had good test-retest reliability (ICC_2,1 = 0.89) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94). Ceiling and floor effects were absent.ConclusionThe valid and reliable IdFAI-THAI can identify chronic ankle instability among Thai speakers in clinical and research settings.