title: Slow, gradual external fixator distraction in acquired ankle and foot contracture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  External fixators have been noted to have a place in the orthopaedic management of problems involving the ankle and foot. We here report a case of ankle and foot contracture managed by soft tissue release and slow, gradual external fixator distraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case report of a patient with acquired ankle and foot contracture and discussion of relevant literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 9-year old female presented to our out-patient clinic with features of right ankle and foot contracture following treatment by traditional bone setters 6 years earlier. The contracture was fixed at 30 degrees. She had soft tissue release and slow, gradual external fixator distraction which corrected the foot to a plantigrade position. Subsequently she had skin grafting for the skin defect. After removal of the external fixator she was placed on a below knee cast and commenced weight bearing. The cast was removed after three weeks and the patient has continued to bear weight on a plantigrade foot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  External fixators have a definite place in contracture release and should be widely utilized.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: V U E
authors.initials: VU
authors.lastname: Adiela
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Ekere
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Yellowe
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Echem
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Omodu
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000150:complications; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery*; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans