The short-term effect of an anchor in treatment of congenital vertical talus in infants.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the short-term effect of a mini anchor in treatment of congenital vertical talus (CVT) in infants.

METHODS

From February 2006 to March 2008, seven patients (nine feet) with CVT were treated in the authors' hospital by the Kumar method combined with transferring and fixing the tendon of the anterior tibial muscle to the head of the talus with a mini anchor. There were five girls and two boys, aged from 10 to 42 months (mean, 18 months). All the feet had a rocker-bottom when the infants were taken to the hospital by their parents and none of them could walk independently. All cases were followed up in the outpatient department, and the Hamanishi and Adelaar standards were used to evaluate the radiograph and clinical results, respectively.

RESULTS

All cases were followed up for 20 to 29 months (mean, 24 months). The parents of these infants were all satisfied with this operation, and five infants can now walk independently. At the most recent follow-up, seven feet were fine and two good according to the Adelaar standard, and six feet were good and three fine according to the Hamanishi standard.

CONCLUSION

The short-term effect of an anchor in treatment of CVT in infants was satisfactory with no recurrence nor talus necrosis.