OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the clinical results of triple arthrodesis in Cerebral Palsy patients and determine whether there is any correspondence between the results and the AOFAS scale, and changes in radiographic angles between the pre- and postoperative periods. METHODS: Between 1985 and 2005, thirty-four patients (40 feet) were submitted to triple arthrodesis of the foot, with an average follow-up time of ninety-one months. The evaluation consisted of the patient's satisfaction and the presence of pain, plantigrade support, residual deformity, range of movement of the ankle, and the AOFAS. Radiographs were made of the foot and ankle to assess the presence of ankle arthrosis, pseudarthrosis of the joints, and measurements of the following angles: talocalcaneal, talur-first metatarsal and tibiotalar, and talocalcaneal and calcaneal pitch. RESULTS: The results were good in 32.4% of cases, regular in 44.1%, satisfactory in 85.3% and 88.2% had plantigrade support. With the AOFAS scale, the results were good in 33.3% and regular in 24.2%. In the radiogra-phic assessment, the AP talar-first metatarsal angle showed an average improvement of 15º, the LAT calcaneous pitch improved by 7º. The talocalcaneal angles, both AP and LAT, improved in 1º. CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that the triple arthrodesis corrects or improves these deformities; the patient showed a high level of satisfaction, most of them with a plantigrade foot. The AOFAS scale had low correlation with the result. The talur-first metatarsal and calcaneal pitch were the most sensitive in the evaluation of the surgical procedure.
Arthrodesis; Cerebral palsy; Foot deformities
