OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence, clinical features, deformity categories and orthopedic treatment of foot and ankle deformities caused by spinal bifida.

METHODSThe charts of the patients received surgical treatment between January 1990 and July 2009 were studied retrospectively, and the data were analyzed.

RESULTSOne hundred and seven cases of foot and ankle deformities caused by spinal bifida received surgical treatment and were included. There were 44 male and 63 female patients. The average age was 17.7 years (range, 1.3 - 52.0 years). And 50.5% (54/107) of cases were over 18 years old and had spinal bifida occulta, and the other 49.5% had spinal bifida manifesta. There was only one case of thoracic spinal bifida (T(3-8)), while the other 106 cases had lumbosacral vertebrae cleft (mainly L(3) to Sacrum). Among a total of 165 feet, unilateral involvement was found in 49 cases (22 cases on the left side, 27 cases on the right side), bilateral involvement in 58 cases. Combined ankle-foot deformities included 76 varus talipes, 23 talipes valgus, 15 flail feet, and 51 other foot deformities. Other site deformities, as a result of spinal bifida, included knee flexion or hyperextension deformity in 4 cases, hip deformity (hip adduction, flexion, or hip dislocation, pelvic tilt, lower extremity discrepancy, etc.) in 17 cases, and urinatory dysfunction and defecation in 30 cases. Twenty-nine of 54 cases with spinal bifida occulta failed to be diagnosed in other hospitals and the misdiagnosed rate reached 53.7% (29/54). Corrective surgery was performed in only 26 patients. And 50.5% (54/107) of patients (over 18 years old) had severe foot and ankle deformities due to a failure of prior surgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONSSpinal bifida is the most commonly found in the lumbosacral vertebrae. Although the main pathogenesis is developmental abnormalities of spinal cord and nerve, the secondary deformity is usually located on the foot and ankle. Some young orthopedic surgeons may not have enough awareness and treatment experience about this disease due to over-specialty of the orthopaedics, so the delay of early diagnosis and treatment is often found and many severe foot and ankle deformities occur.