BACKGROUND: Ghildren refractory clubfoot includes idiopathic multiple contracture, untreated idiopathic clubfoot in older children and failure cases of repeated operations. It is very difficult to treat this type of children patients. It has important significance in the exploration of new therapeutic methods.OBJECTIVE: To improve the therapeutic effectiveness of refractory clubfoot in children with Ilizarov method.DESIGN: a self-controlled study.SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Nanjing Children' s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 3 cases of children idiopathic multiple contracture, 2 cases of idiopathic clubfoot in children aged more than 10 years old without treatment and 6 cases of postoperative recurrent idiopathic clubfoot were admitted by the Department of Orthopedics of Nanjing Children' s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University during 1999 to 2000. All cases manifested abnormal ankylosis and shortening deformity in foot.METHODS: Twelve refractory clubfeet in eleven patients were treated with the Ilizarov method. After achilles tendon lengthening and posterior release,kieschner' wires or olive wires with tension were penetrated through multiple planes of the middle lower 1/3 of tibia, calcaneus and the 1st to the 5th metatarsals, which were fixed respectively to external bone fixer of a ring,half-ring or horseshoe shape and connected with each other by multiple screw bars into a three-dimensional external bone fixing set. Plantarflexion, inversion, adduction and shortening deformities were corrected by the adjustment of the distance between each part of the external bone fixing set through extension, compression, and rotation, etc., and navicular and cuboid osteotomy.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All 11 cases were followed up for 2 to 10 years with an average period of 4. 5 years. Indices like foot morphology,talocrural articualr activity range and deformity correction were observed during the follow up.RESULTS: The results were excellent in 5 cases (6 feet), good in 4 cases (4 feet), fair 2 cases(2 feet) according to the Garceau standard scale. The rate of excellent and good clinical results was 83.3%. Mild forefoot adduction was left in 2 feet of 2 cases and quite obvious tarsal articular ankylosis was found in 4 feet of 4 cases; however, there were no significant differences of gait and load bearing between these patients and normal children.CONCLUSION: The Ilizarov technique is a safe and effective method for the treatment of refractory children clubfoot while its indications should be controlled strictly.