2025, Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C
From disability to mobility: A surgical approach to severe foot deformity following childhood clubfoot
Author(s): Filipa de Carvalho Cordeiro, João Nelas, Francisco Serra, Francisco Xará Leite and Luís Costa
Abstract: Clubfoot, when inadequately treated or left to progress, can lead to severe structural deformities in adulthood, significantly impairing function and quality of life.
We present the case of a 52-year-old male with a complex foot deformity as a long-term sequela of childhood clubfoot.
The patient exhibited a supinated and adducted foot, bearing weight on the lateral rays while the first ray remained non-weight-bearing, leading to instability, gait impairment, and chronic pain.
Preoperative planning was crucial, involving 3D reconstruction models based on CT scan to fully assess the structural abnormalities and guide the surgical strategy. Correction was achieved through a percutaneous varus osteotomy of the calcaneus, navicular resection, percutaneous cuboid osteotomy, talo-cuneiform arthrodesis, and wedge osteotomy of the proximal phalanx of the toes. This comprehensive reconstructive approach successfully realigned the foot, achieving near-normal anatomical positioning. Remarkably, at just twelve weeks postoperatively, the patient was able to walk with full support of the foot, demonstrating rapid functional recovery and pain relief.
This case underscores the potential of tailored surgical reconstruction to restore mobility and significantly improve quality of life, even in long-standing severe foot deformities. Early clinical outcomes suggest that, with careful planning and execution, functional restoration can be achieved in a short timeframe, offering renewed mobility to patients suffering from similar conditions.
DOI: 10.22271/27078345.2025.v7.i2c.279Pages: 155-160 | Views: 459 | Downloads: 130Download Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
Filipa de Carvalho Cordeiro, João Nelas, Francisco Serra, Francisco Xará Leite, Luís Costa.
From disability to mobility: A surgical approach to severe foot deformity following childhood clubfoot. Int J Case Rep Orthop 2025;7(2):155-160. DOI:
10.22271/27078345.2025.v7.i2c.279
