Critical aspects of neonatal surgery in clubfoot.

Good results after early operative treatment of clubfoot has been reported by some investigators. Most have recommended early conservative treatment and later surgical procedures in resistant cases. Operation immediately after birth is demanding, and the operative team must master all problems of neonatal surgery, anesthesiology, and postoperative care. Conservative treatment in experienced hands may lead to a satisfactory result in one third of cases. We recommend primarily conservative treatment, but patients with resistant cases must undergo operation at age 2-5 months. We need more prospective studies and generally accepted grading systems of results.