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Foot deformities at birth: a longitudinal prospective study over a 16-year period
1Department of Orthopaedics, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Most congenital foot deformities, excluding clubfoot, resolve naturally. This study tracked 2,401 newborns, finding adductus anomalies largely corrected by age 16.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Congenital foot deformities affect approximately 4% of newborns.
- Adductus anomalies represent the majority of these conditions.
- Understanding the natural history of these deformities is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term natural course of congenital foot deformities in children.
- To evaluate the resolution rates of various foot deformities, particularly adductus anomalies.
- To assess the utility of dynamic foot pressure and gait analysis in long-term follow-up.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 2,401 newborns.
- Follow-up examinations including dynamic foot pressure (EMED) and gait analysis (Vifor) at ages 6 and 16 years.
- Comparison between children with and without initial foot deformities.
Main Results:
- The overall incidence of foot deformities was 4%, with adductus anomalies being the most common.
- Except for clubfoot, most congenital foot deformities showed a favorable natural course.
- Significant resolution rates for adductus deformities were observed: 87% by age 6 and 95% by age 16.
Conclusions:
- Congenital foot deformities, particularly adductus anomalies, generally have a favorable prognosis with natural resolution.
- Continuous monitoring throughout childhood growth is essential to observe the resolution of these conditions.
- Dynamic foot pressure and gait analysis can provide valuable data for assessing foot function over time.
Abstract:
In a prospective study of 2,401 newborns, the incidence of foot deformities was 4%, of which three fourths were various forms of adductus anomalies. At age 16 years, the children with a foot deformity and a random sample of those with normal feet as newborns were examined by dynamic foot pressure (EMED) and gait analysis (Vifor). The natural course of all congenital foot deformities, except clubfoot, was favorable. The importance of monitoring the children during the entire growth period is shown by the fact that at age 6 years, 87%, and at 16 years, 95% of the adductus deformities had resolved.