Tibial osteotomy as a salvage procedure in the treatment of congenital talipes equinovarus.

Fourteen children (19 feet) ranging in age from 2.1 to 17.0 years (mean, 7.6 years) underwent tibial osteotomy for treatment of congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV). The indications for tibial osteotomy were persistent or recurrent equinovarus deformity and internal rotation of the foot (medial malalignment syndrome), in most cases with severe distortion of the hindfoot joints resulting from previous operations. In 12 feet (9 children), bi- or triplanar supramalleolar osteotomy for the correction of all the elements of the deformity was performed. In the remaining cases, external rotation tibial osteotomy below the tuberosity in five feet (three children) and supramalleolar in two feet (two children) was performed. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 16 years (mean, 4.3 years). Partial or full improvement, concerning one or more elements of the equinovarus deformity, has been achieved in 11 feet (nine children). In eight feet (five children), tibial osteotomy did not improve the deformity. There are exceptionally rare indications for use of tibial osteotomy in the treatment of CTEV or medial malalignment syndrome after failed clubfoot surgery. They concern older children and adolescents with secondary osteoarthritis of the feet resulting from previous multiple operations.