Do the clinical scores (Pirani and Dimeglio scores) correlate with the radiological parameters in idiopathic club foot in infants? A cross-sectional study.

This study was done to identify how well clinical scores and their sub-scores correlate with the radiographic parameters in idiopathic clubfoot. We studied 76 patients of idiopathic clubfoot who are from 5 months to 12 months of age. Deformity was assessed clinically with Pirani and Dimeglio scores and radiologically using eight parameters. Correlation between clinical and radiological scores was studied. All the eight radiological parameters were showing statistically significant correlation with clinical scores - both Pirani and Dimeglio scores. The mean total Pirani score at the time of X-ray was 2.31 with a SD of 1.58 (N = 118 minimum score = 0 and maximum score = 5.5), whereas the mean radiographic score was 3.67 with a SD of 2.1 (N = 118, minimum score = 0, maximum score = 8). The mean total Dimeglio score at the time of X-ray was 9.03 with a SD of 3.54 (N = 118, minimum score = 4 and maximum score = 15), whereas the mean total radiographic score was 3.67 with a SD of 2.1 (N = 118, minimum score = 0, maximum score = 8). Clinical scores correlate well with radiological parameters in infants with idiopathic clubfoot and hence the routine use of radiographs can be avoided in evaluation and follow-up thereby avoiding exposure to radiation.