Article

The unilateral unaffected clubfoot has previously been used as a control in
longitudinal studies of clubfoot outcomes. However,
we have observed that the
unaffected clubfoot does not necessarily exhibit the same pedobarographic
measurements as seen in normal control subjects. The purpose of this study was to
evaluate whether the unaffected foot is indeed normal or if there are differences
in the pedobarographic measurements of the unaffected foot compared to healthy
normal controls.The Tekscan HR Mat was used to dynamically test the walking
pattern of 103 subjects with unilateral clubfeet and compare the results to our
previously published series of normal controls. Patients were divided into three
groups: Group 1 (< 2 years), Group 2 (2-5 years) and Group 3 (>5 years). An
unpaired t-test (p < 0.05) was used to compare percentage of stance at initiation
of force, the percentage of stance at maximum force, the percentage of stance at
termination of force, the maximum percentage force and the average force/time
integral between a group of normal age matched controls and the unaffected foot
in patients with unilateral clubfoot. Significant differences were identified
between the unaffected side and normal controls for the pressure distribution,
order of initial contact and foot contact time.
These differences evolved and
changed with age. The pedobarographic measurements of patients with clubfoot are
not normal for the unaffected foot. As such the unaffected foot should not be
referred to as normal, nor should it be used as a control.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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