Study of Lower Leg Muscle Length Following Clubfoot Relapse : 3D Modeling of Foot Deformity in AnyBody Modeling System

Sammanfattning: Idiopathic clubfoot causes severe deformity of the foot and lower leg. Due to the complex anatomy and small size of the foot, the condition is difficult to define and describe. This study focused on 3D modeling of different foot positions associated with clubfoot relapse, and investigation of muscle parameters. The 3D modeling was performed in the AnyBody Modeling System to retrieve information about muscle length. Musculoskeletal modeling could provide further understanding of the condition and contribute to assessment and treatment evaluation. Five children that received clubfoot treatment as infants, and five typically developing children, serving as a control group, participated in the study. Despite treatment with the Ponseti method, Achilles tenotomy and use of an abduction orthosis, all participants of the clubfoot group showed signs of relapse. In total, seven affected legs were studied. Data from gait analyses of all participants were compiled and interpreted in the AnyBody Modeling System. The Plug-in-Gait Model for lower extremities and the Oxford Foot Model were used as marker protocol for the study. Studied lower leg muscles were Gastrocnemius Lateralis, Gastrocnemius Medialis, Soleus Lateralis and Soleus Medialis. Muscle length, defined as length of contractile element, for each leg and participant were evaluated using the AnyBody model template LowerExtremity. Compared to the control group, the models of the clubfoot group presented shorter mean muscle lengths of all investigated muscles.