We evaluated the efficacy of the different operative procedures for idiopathic congenital clubfoot.

Ninety-six feet in sixty-seven patients underwent surgical treatment. The average age of the patients at the time of surgery was 9 months (range, 2 to 18 months) and the mean follow-up period was 5 years (range, 2 to 9.7 years). Clinical evaluation both preoperatively (by the classification of Dimeglio et al.) and postoperatively (by the classification of Ezra et al.), and radiological assessment (AP and lateral weight-bearing views) of the feet were performed.

Eighty-seven feet (83.1%) demonstrated excellent or good clinical results. The position of the heels with standing and subtalar motion were the assessment categories that demonstrated the least amount of improvement. All radiological indices were improved after surgery.

The results suggest that the outcome of treatment for clubfoot is dependent largely on the degree of the initial deformity. Three-dimensional correction is important to achieve a satisfactory result.