Conservative treatment of clubfoot using modified Copenhagen method.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a modified Copenhagen physical therapy method in reducing surgery rates for congenital idiopathic clubfoot.


METHODS
This research is a retrospective descriptive study of 82 patients (123 clubfeet). All patients were younger than 2 months at the beginning of the treatment and were initially evaluated to classify clubfoot severity using the Harrold and Walker scale. The study period included the years from 1980 to 2003, with an average monitoring of 14.5 years (range, 3-26 years).


RESULTS
After 3 years of treatment, 55% of the involved feet did not need surgery, 2% needed percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon, and 43% had posterior release. At the end of monitoring, 34% feet did not need surgery, 2% had percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon, and 64% required posterior releases.


CONCLUSIONS
The Copenhagen method may reduce the necessity of surgical intervention for idiopathic clubfoot.
Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain. eutrilla@us.es
Elia María
EM
Utrilla-Rodríguez
María Jesús Guerrero
MJ
Martínez-Cañavete
Juan Andrés Conejero
JA
Casares
D002370:Casts, Surgical; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index