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Neonatal metatarsus adductus, joint mobility, axis and rotation of the lower extremity in preterm and term children 0–5 years of age

  • Growth and Development
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Abstract

A total of 484 premature children and a control group of 114 healthy term children underwent orthopaedic follow-up from birth to 5 years of age. At birth, metatarsus adductus was found to be more frequent in twins than in single infants (41% vs 16%; P<0.01), but occurred with equal frequency in single preterm and term infants (16% vs 12%). By 5 years of age, metatarsus adductus had resolved in all the term but only in 81% of the preterm children (P<0.05). In the preterm and term groups, knee axis (mean intermalleolar distance 22.0 mm vs 20.1 mm), tibial torsion (mean angle-1.2° vs +0.6°) and angle of gait (mean angle +1.5° vs +0.7°) at 5 years were statistically insignificant. Hip function at 5 years was similar in normal preterm and term children but significantly decreased in preterm children with cerebral palsy, more so with regard to abduction (56° vs 39°, P<0.05) and extension (22° vs 8°, P<0.01). The difference between the sexes was insignificant in both the preterm and term groups.

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Abbreviations

MA:

metatarsus adducts

CP:

cerebral palsy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Zürich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032, Zürich, Switzerland

    U. A. Hunziker, R. H. Largo & G. Duc

Authors
  1. U. A. Hunziker
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  2. R. H. Largo
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  3. G. Duc
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Additional information

This study was supported by the Swiss National Foundation (No. 3988-1.84) and La Fondation Suisse pour l'Encouragement de la Recherche Scientifique sur l'Arriération Mentale

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Hunziker, U.A., Largo, R.H. & Duc, G. Neonatal metatarsus adductus, joint mobility, axis and rotation of the lower extremity in preterm and term children 0–5 years of age. Eur J Pediatr 148, 19–23 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441806

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441806

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