Researchers Study Safety of Surgical Procedure and Anesthesia

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December 11, 2009

A research study by a team of medical staff at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Spokane titled, “Safety of Percutaneous Tendoachilles Tenotomy Performed under General Anesthesia on Infants with Idiopathic Clubfoot,” was published in the December 2009 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Cases involving infants less than 1 year of age with clubfoot who underwent a particular surgical heel cord lengthening procedure in an operating room under anesthesia were reviewed for complications and outcomes.

This procedure involves making a small nick to the heel cord (Achilles tendon) with a scalpel, lengthening the heel cord so the foot is in a more natural position. There is a difference of opinion among physicians as to whether this surgery is most safely performed on infants under the controlled conditions of an operating room using general anesthesia, or if it should be done in an outpatient setting using local anesthesia.

At the Shriners Hospital for Children in Spokane, families are informed of the risks and benefits of both options and choose the one they believe is best for their child.

After review of more than 130 patients’ records, the study showed that using general anesthesia for this heel cord lengthening procedure for infants with clubfoot can safely be performed. No complications related to anesthesia were identified in this group and nearly all patients were discharged on the day of surgery.

To view the full study, visit Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics.

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