The effect of abductor hallucis tendon release on residual adductus deformity in the surgical treatment of congenital clubfoot

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of abductor hallucis (AH) tendon release on residual adductus deformity in the surgical treatment of congenital clubfoot. Methods: The study included 35 patients with congenital clubfoot. Thirteen patients (group 1, 21 feet) underwent classical complete subtalar release, while 22 patients (group 2, 31 feet) underwent the same treatment combined with AH muscle release by stripping it plantarward and transecting it distally. The mean age was 19.4 months (range 13 to 39 months) in group 1, and 13.5 months (range 11 to 25 months) in group 2. The mean follow-up period was 55.5 months (range 36 to 77 months) in group 1, and 24.7 months (range 10 to 37 months) in group 2. Radiographic assessments were made on preop-erative, early postoperative, and final radiographs for the an-teroposterior talo-first metatarsal angle and calcaneocuboid relationship, and for the anteroposterior naviculometatarsal angle and talonavicular relationship on final radiographs. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in the anteroposterior talo-first metatarsal angle in the early postoperative period (p<0.001); however, early and late postoperative talo-first metatarsal angle did not differ significantly both within groups and between groups (p>0.05). The anteroposterior naviculometatarsal angle was 95.3 degrees in group 1, and 96.7 degrees in group 2. The anteroposterior naviculometatarsal angle and talonavicular subluxation were similar in the two groups (p>0.05). The early and late postoperative calcaneocuboid relationship showed significant improvement in both groups, without a significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: It seems that release of the AH muscle does not affect the incidence of postsurgical residual adduction deformity in the surgical treatment of congenital clubfoot.