Abstract
Talectomy was performed on 31 rigid clubfeet in 13 boys and 10 girls. Sixteen patients had myelomeningocele and seven arthrogryposis. The procedure was undertaken as a salvage operation on 22 feet. Seven patients had an additional cuboidectomy. The mean age of the patients was 3.7 years (2 to 9).
The patients were followed up for a mean of 4.5 years. Assessment included foot position, appearance and mobility, orthotic or shoe-wear fitting and walking capacity. Calcaneal position at the ankle was assessed radiologically. The results in 18 feet were good and in seven were satisfactory. There were six failures. Primary talectomy produced better results in children above the age of two years than ssecondary procedure in the older children. One of the patients developed a severe vascular complication, followed by sepsis, and required amputation of the foot. The other failures were due to recurrence of equines deformity.
Talectomy performed for severe rigid clubfoot achieved satisfactory correction in most of our patients. Excision of the talus as a salvage procedure carries a risk of incomplete correction and vascular complication.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at PO Box 47363, Parklands, Johannesburg 2121, South Africa.
