title: Unilateral versus bilateral clubfoot: an analysis of severity and correlation.
abstract: This study compares the severity of unilateral and bilateral clubfoot, and the correlation between right and left feet of bilateral cases. Sixty-six unilateral and 75 bilateral clubfoot patients were assessed for severity using the Pirani score at an average age of 12.9 days (SD 9 days). In bilateral cases, the severity of right and left feet was highly correlated (r=0.68). The odds of being very severe were 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.3-5.1) times higher in bilateral cases (P=0.007). Bilateral and unilateral clubfeet present with differing severity. Right and left feet from bilateral cases are highly correlated. Researchers need to address these issues during study design and analysis.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The Sydney Children's Hospital Network bPaediatric Gait Analysis Service of NSW, The Sydney Children's Hospital Network cNational Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre dUniversity of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index