Abstract: Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the safety/efficacy of a split anterior tibialis tendon transfer (SPLATT) to the peroneus brevis/tertius in children with varus feet.
Methods: This is a case series of 5children with varus foot who had undergone split anterior tibialis tendon transfer (SPLATT) to the peroneus brevis/tertius. The principal outcome measures were changes in pain (measured by likert scale), difficulty with shoe wear (measured by mean difference in pre and post op scores) and radiological parameters obtained from anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the affected foot before and after surgery. Each case was followed up for 1 year.
Results: After surgery foot pain and problems with shoe wear improved. The radiological criteria also showed a clinically and statistically significant (p<0.001) improvement at follow-up, the majority being in the normal range.
Conclusion: Soft-tissue surgery in the form of SPLATT was successful in the majority of children with varus deformity of foot resulting in a plantigrade, flexible foot with minimal pain or limitations in shoe-wear.
