Ultrasound contribution in the analysis of the newborn and infant normal and clubfoot: a preliminary study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of ultrasound in the preoperative assessment of clubfoot and follow-up growth. We first studied 50 normal newborns and infants (aged 1 day to 1 year). The normal values established were reliable, dynamic and reproducible measurements allowing the assessment of osteo-articular relationships and cartilage morphology. Ultrasound appears to be more useful than radiography because it allows delineation of cartilaginous structures (which are not visible on conventional radiographs) and dynamic study of foot positions, and has no danger from radiation. A future paper will contain preliminary results of cases of clubfoot studied by ultrasound.