Experience in the conservative treatment of congenital clubfoot in newborns and infants.

We studied 323 children with congenital clubfoot from 1970 to 1987. The principles of conservative treatment of congenital clubfoot in newborns have completely changed since 1973. The present principles we follow are to begin treatment immediately after birth; and adduction and varus removal by manipulation. In each case, we use a plaster cast, which is changed after a few days as long as the foot is limp and well corrigible. The knee is immobilized at 60 to 70 degrees in a plaster cast. During the manipulations, the surgeon's hand presses only the plantar side of the foot. The results can be described as good, since in each child we have removed adduction and varus as operation by posterior release and Achilles lengthening was necessary in only 50% of the children.