Talipes Equinovarus in Loeys-Dietz Syndrome

Daniel Badin, Lara C. Atwater, Harry C. Dietz, Paul D. Sponseller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) commonly presents with foot deformities, such as talipes equinovarus (TEV), also known as "clubfoot." Although much is known about the treatment of idiopathic TEV, very little is known about the treatment of TEV in LDS. Here, we summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with LDS and TEV and compare clinical and patient-reported outcomes of operative versus nonoperative treatment. Methods: We identified 47 patients with TEV from a cohort of 252 patients with LDS who presented to our academic tertiary care hospital from 2010 to 2016. A questionnaire, electronic health records, clinical photos and radiographs, and telephone calls were used to collect baseline, treatment, and outcome data. The validated disease-specific instrument was used to determine patient-reported foot/ankle functional limitations after treatment. Patients were categorized into nonoperative and operative groups, with the operative group subcategorized according to whether the posteromedial release was performed. Results: Within our TEV cohort, bilateral TEV was present in 40 patients (85%). Thirty-seven patients underwent surgery (14 involving posteromedial release), and 10 were treated nonoperatively. The operative group had a higher incidence of posttreatment foot/ankle functional limitation (71%) than the nonoperative group (25%) (P=0.04). The pain was the most common functional limitation (54%). The posteromedial release was associated with a higher incidence of developing hindfoot valgus compared with surgery not involving posteromedial release (43% vs. 8.7%, P=0.04) and compared with nonoperative treatment (43% vs. 0.0%, P=0.02). Conclusions: We found that patients with LDS have a high incidence of bilateral TEV. Operative treatment was associated with posttreatment foot/ankle functional limitations, and posteromedial release was associated with hindfoot valgus overcorrection deformity. These findings could have implications for the planning of surgery for TEV in LDS patients. Level of Evidence: Level III - retrospective comparative study.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E777-E782
JournalJournal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
Volume42
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2022

Keywords

  • Loeys-Dietz syndrome
  • functional outcomes
  • hindfoot valgus
  • surgical correction
  • talipes equinovarus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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