Recent reports have been published concerning the treatment of paralytic drop foot by means of posterior bone block operations. Admittedly, an appreciable percentage of unsatisfactory results has followed the use of this procedure.1 Posterior bone block for paralytic drop foot was tried at the New York Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital, but the results were not satisfactory. Accordingly, the procedure was abandoned. Ankle fusion was adopted and has been used extensively for both drop foot and calcaneus deformities.
During the five year period from 1934 to 1938 inclusive 106 ankle fusions were done in this hospital for the correction of paralytic deformities resulting from anterior poliomyelitis. Ankle fusion was done in 72 instances to correct drop foot deformity and in 34 instances to correct calcaneus deformity. The patients have been observed from year to year in the follow-up clinic, and the end results have been gratifying.
DROP FOOT听
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