[The role of posterior release in the treatment program for congenital clubfoot].

The aim of this paper was to assess the utility of this procedure and to define it's role in treatment of congenital clubfeet. The material comprises 123 children, among whom 154 feet were treated by posterior release. The age of the patients ranged from 5 to 36 months (average age: 16 months). The procedure involved the lengthening of the Achilles tendon in the sagittal plane, partial resection or transverse dissection of the articular capsule of the ankle joint. In selected cases lengthening of the tendon of the extensor hallucis muscle was performed and sometimes of the posticus muscle. The described procedure was performed in all cases where all forefoot components of the deformity were found, as well as an equines position of the foot. A group of 87 patients (70.7%), among whom posterior release was performed in 101 feet (65.6%). The follow-up time ranged from 5 to 15 years (average: 12.3 years). Results were assessed according to the classification by Magone et al. Very good results (95-100 points) were achieved in 27 feet (26.8%), good results (80-89 points) were found in 40 feet (39.6%), satisfactory (70-79 points) in 25 feet (24.7%), and bad results (less than 70 points) in 9 feet (8.9%). Basing on their own experience the authors' believe this procedure is very useful in treatment of congenital clubfeet. It's therapeutic usefulness is at it's best when deformities of the forefoot have been conservatively corrected. The extent of posterior release depends on the severity of the deformity.