[Historical review of congenital foot deformity treatment]

There is still no good solution for the treatment of all the forms of clubfoot.

The first written description of the treatment of this deformity was given by Hippocrates. In the Middle Ages, Galenus, Celsus and Averroe only reviewed the lessons of Hippocrates's principles. The first description of orthopedic prosthetic for the treatment of clubfoot was published in "Opera Chirurgica" by Amboise Peréa in 1575. In 1796, Bruckner wrote the first monography about clubfoot. The biggest contribution to the modern way of treating clubfoot was given by Abel Mix Phelebs, who described the medial "release" in 1890. Since 1980 an advantage has been given to early non-operative treatment. The progressive operative approach (use of "release procedures") was introduced.

The first procedures were performed by D. Jovcić and S. Stojanović in Belgrade in 1937. In the period from 1960 to 1970, more and more orthopedic and pediatric surgeons became interested in clubfoot treatment. In 1970 one of the main topics of the 5th Congress of Orthopedics and Traumatology in Belgrade was "Foot Surgery". Many specialists from Belgrade were engaged in clubfoot treatment: D. Rakić, S. Rajić, S. Popović, L. Stojanović among pediatricians, and B. Radulović, P. Klisić among orthopedic surgeons, as well as R. Brdar, Z. Vukasinović and G. Cobeljić with their assistants. In Novi Sad, in 1967, D. Pajić began diagnosis and treatment of clubfoot. Very soon D. Pajić became a symbol of clubfoot treatment followed by hardworking assistants L. Petković and V. Tomasević.

The treatment of clubfoot is still controversial and continues to be one of the most interesting fields in pediatric orthopedics.