European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic clubfoot is characterized by an alteration of the morphology of the foot
that cannot physiologically move on the ground. Tibialis anterior tendon transfer was is an
effective method in the management of dynamic supination as well as prevention of clubfoot
relapse in children. The aim of the current study to confirm the best management of split tibialis
anterior tendon transfer in the treatment of residual clubfoot. Patients and methods: A
prospective study included 18 patients (22 feet) with residual dynamic supination deformity
following previous ponseti management. Patients underwent split transfer of the anterior tibial
tendon at Zagazig University hospitals. Clinical and radiographic assessment of outcomes is
performed at the end of healing. Results: The present study included 18 cases (12 males and 6
females) with mean age of 3.43 years ± 0.71 to assess outcome of split tibialis anterior tendon
transfer in management of residual clubfoot. Patient age ranged from 2.5 years to 5 years old at
the time of the operation, 9 with right foot affection, 5 with left foot deformity while 4 patients (8
feet) were bilateral. The majority of cases were males (66.7%) and females were (33.3%).Right
side was affected in 9 cases (50%), the left was affected in five .cases (27.8%) while four cases
(22.2%) were bilateral. The mean radiological measurment improvement of AP talocalcaneal
angle, AP talofirst metatarsal angle, Lattalocalcanael angle, Lattalo-first metatarsal angle, Firstfifth
metatarsal over lap, and the improvement of all angles were stastistically significant. The
complication rate was 16.7% (3 cases) all had superfecial infection only. Conclusion: The
anterior tibial tendon transfer is a practical method for achieving fully or split transfer due to
both techniques have an excellent outcomes with low complication. It is simple and effective softtissue
procedure to correct the muscle imbalance of the foot. The split tibialis tendon transfer are
still better because of low risk of over correction which preserve some inversion function.