Clubfoot Does Not Impair Gross Motor Development in 5-Year-Olds

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Motor Development

Background:

• Idiopathic clubfoot is a common congenital foot deformity.
• Early nonoperative management is the standard treatment for many cases.
• Long-term effects on gross motor skills require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the gross motor development of 5-year-olds treated for idiopathic clubfoot in infancy.
• To assess if initial clubfoot severity or treatment influenced motor outcomes.
• Utilizing the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 2nd Edition (PDMS-2) for comprehensive assessment.

Main Methods:

• 128 children with idiopathic clubfeet, treated nonoperatively as infants, were assessed at age 5.
• The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 2nd Edition (PDMS-2) Stationary, Locomotion, and Object Manipulation subtests were administered.
• Children were analyzed based on initial clubfoot severity, unilateral/bilateral involvement, and surgical history.

Main Results:

• Children with treated clubfeet achieved average gross motor scores comparable to normative data (99 Gross Motor Quotient).
• More severe clubfeet were significantly more likely to require surgery (P < .01).
• No significant differences in PDMS-2 scores were found based on initial severity, unilateral/bilateral status, or surgical intervention.

Conclusions:

• Idiopathic clubfoot, when managed initially without surgery, does not appear to significantly impair gross motor development by age 5.
• Gross motor skills are comparable to peers, regardless of initial clubfoot severity or treatment pathway.
• This suggests effective early management leads to normal motor development trajectories.