Late recurrence of clubfoot deformity: a 45-year followup

Idiopathic clubfoot is one of the most common congenital deformities. Regardless of the mode of treatment, clubfoot has a tendency to relapse until the age of 5 years. Relapses are rare in patients after 5 years of age. A 45-year followup of a patient with idiopathic clubfoot treated as a newborn with the Ponseti method is reported. The patient had both clubfeet well-corrected as seen clinically and radiographically with this method. However, recurrent deformities developed bilaterally when the patient was 8 years old. Because of the late recurrence of this deformity, the patient had a thorough neurologic evaluation, which was normal. Treating physicians should be aware of the possibility of late recurrence in patients who have had complete correction of their clubfoot deformity.