Results in the treatment of paralytic calcaneus-valgus feet with the Westin technique

Between 1988 and 2003, 23 patients with paralytic calcaneus-valgus feet were submitted to the Westin procedure and 17 patients (25 feet) were re-evaluated. Nine patients were male and eight were female. The mean age at the surgical procedure was 8±5 years. The aetiology of paralysis was sequelae of poliomyelitis in 6 patients (8 feet) and of myelomeningocele in 11 patients (17 feet). The mean follow-up period was 6±6 years. The results were analysed clinically and radiographically considering the decrease of the retropulsion, the patient’s satisfaction, and the increase of the lateral tibiocalcaneal angle. Results were considered satisfactory when the patients showed a decrease of the retropulsion during gait, improvement of the gait pattern, and an increase of the tibiocalcaneal angle. As an overall result, 16 patients (94.2%) were satisfied and 1 patient (two feet) dissatisfied with the outcome. The increase of the tibiocalcaneal angle was significant for the myelomeningocele patients (P=0.001), but not for poliomyelitis (P=0.053). No statistical relation between the follow-up period and the increase of the tibiocalcaneal angle was found (r=0.04). The authors concluded that the Westin procedure is a good technique for the treatment of paralytic calcaneus valgus feet with myelomeningocele.