Læknablaðið - 15.11.1986, Qupperneq 44

312
LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
»stripping«). 170 growing feet (group I) and 41
fullgrown feet (group II) were operated upon. The mean
period of observation in the whole material was 3 Vi
years.
At review it was found that subjective symptoms had
vanished or markedly diminished in 96.3 per cent of
group I (170 growing feet).
The operation also resulted in correction of the
excavatus deformity in 88 per cent of these feet and in
correction of the varus deformity in 76 per cent.
Bearing in mind the above results the author permits
himself to draw the conclusion that this method is suited
for the treatment of pes varo-excavatus congenitus
idiopathicus during the growing period. The best timing
for the operation is about the age of ten to twelve years.
At that age standard conservative measures have
disclosed whether they suffice or not. Then an sample
period of growth remains to give the bones of the foot
sufficient time to grow into normal anatomical form
after the operation, with normalization of the
deformity.
In group II (fullgrown) this operative method gave
satisfactory results as to the subjective symptoms.
However, no measurable correction of the varus or
excavatus deformities of these fully grown and
unyealding feet was encountered. The operation may
therefore be indicated in the fully grown pes
varo-excavatus with increasing pain on exertion and
decreased endurance.
Patients over middle-age often have developed
osteoarthrosis (arthrosis deformans) in the individual
foot joints, due to long standing internal derangement
of bones of the feet. These patients frequently experince
rapidly increasing subjective symptoms and disability.
The described operation is then not indicated. In those
cases major operations on the foot skeleton, such as
corrective subtalar arthrodesis, are often needed.
HEIMILDIR
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