A Prospective Study on Functional Outcome of Percutaneous Tendoachilles Tenotomy in CTEV

Background and objectives: The most prevalent musculoskeletal birth abnormality, affecting 1 in 1000 live births, is idiopathic clubfoot. Clubfoot abnormalities include equinus, cavus, heel varus, and forefoot adductus. The Ponsetti approach has become the most common non-operative therapy for clubfoot across the world, and Percutaneous Tendo Achilles Tenotomy is a component of this procedure that is utilized to accelerate the correction of equinus deformity. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the merits of percutaneous Tendo Achilles tenotomy in Ponsetti correction. Materials and Method: Twenty babies with 36 idiopathic clubfeet were treated at GMKMCH, Salem. The patients were followed prospectively for 2 years and assessed for the results. All feet were initially graded for the severity of deformity by PIRANI scoring, and treated according to the Ponsetti method. Results: Twenty babies underwent 36 Percutaneous Tendo Achilles Tenotomy. The average PIRANI score was 5.8 prior to casting. The average number of casts applied prior to surgery was 7.8. The average age at the time of surgery was 4.8 months (range 1½ –10 months).No child had a delay in discharge. No surgical or anaesthesia-related complications occurred. No child needed a repeat procedure due to an incomplete tenotomy. Conclusion: In conclusion percutaneous tendo Achilles tenotomy in the infantile period is safe and inexpensive procedure with a very low complication rate.