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Abstract
Clubfoot is a bony deformity characterized by inversion, adduction and equinus which often requires surgical intervention. Functional outcome assessments after surgery often measure passive range of motion at the ankle joint, but no studies to date have examined the biomechanics of the forefoot relative to the hindfoot in clubfoot children. This study used age- and gender-matched normal control subjects to determine the biomechanics of the normal foot using a motion analysis system and compared the results to unilateral and bilateral clubfoot subjects. We assessed outcome by using a motion analysis system to quantify the relative forefoot and hindfoot motion in addition to hip, knee and ankle kinematics and kinetics. We found that push-off was not only affected by the lack of plantarflexion and strength at the ankle, but may be adversely affected by the inadequate amount of plantarflexion and abduction of the forefoot relative to the hindfoot.
