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Fewer Wounds with Cincinnati Incision for Clubfoot

Infants born with clubfoot often need surgery to correct the problem. Talipes equinovarus is the medical term for clubfoot. It means the foot is twisted in and down. Wound complications is a common problem after this operation. Up to 30 per cent of the patients have poor wound healing, infection, or too much scarring.

In this study, surgeons from the University of California and Shriners Hospital compare the results of two different incisions used to correct clubfoot. the first incision type called the Turco was developed in 1971 by Dr. Turco. This opening is vertical. After correcting the deformity, the foot is put in a cast in a neutral (corrected) position right away.

The second method is the Cincinnati incision. The cut is made along the inside edge of the bottom of the foot. The foot is casted in stages. First it is put in an equinus position. The cast is changed a week later and the foot is moved into the neutral position.

By comparing the results of two groups of children, the surgeons were able to see fewer problems using the Cincinnati method. They weren't sure if the lower rate of wound problems was because of the incision or the casting method. More studies are needed to find out exactly why there were fewer wound problems with the Cincinnati method.

References: Wellington K. Hsu, MD, et al. Wound Complications from Idiopathic Clubfoot Surgery. In Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics. April/May 2007. Vol. 27. No. 3. Pp. 329-332.

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