Electrophysiological study of congenital clubfoot

Objective To examine the functional alt er ations in nerves and muscles of the lower extremities, provide scientific ground s on the etiology and assess the outcome of treatment by electrophysiological studies in congenital clubfoot. Methods Fourty-two patients (60 foot) of clubfoot agi ng from 6 months to 12years (mean 26.48 ± 36.43 months) were examined. O f them, electrophysiologically with particular reference to the latency, conduct ion velocity, amplitude of muscle action potential were measured using an evoked potential apparatus Keypoint 4C (Denmark). Stimulating pulses of 2 Hz with 0. 2 ms duration were used. Results Of the 60 limbs in 42 patients, 53 limbs ( 88.1 %) in 37 patients had abnormal findings and only 7 limbs ( 11.9 %) in 5 pati ents were found to be no significant abnormality during the electrophysiologica l examination. Conclusion The current study is supportive of the neuromu scular etiology theory of congenital clubfoot, thus providing valuable objective parameters that would be conductive to correct diagnosis and valid assessment measures of the results following surgical treatment.