Poverty related difficulties in the management of talipes equinovarus in Africa. Our initial experience of 100 cases observed in Cameroon

Background: Congenital talipes equinovarus or clubfoot is very common in Africa. In Cameroon, this abnormality is the second main complain in our orthopaedic clinics in Yaoundé. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study carried out to determine the results of the management of the clubfoot in our limited resource environment. We reviewed all the cases observed or treated during 5 years. The diagnosis was made on clinical and radiogical examination. Results : We found 100 cases of Talipes equinovarus. There were respectively 85% and 15% of congenital and acquired clubfeet. Thirty-eight patients were treated non-operatively and nineteen patients were operated with respective satisfactory results of 50% and 71%. Discussion: These clubfeet were relatively severe and associated with other abnormalities which made their management much more difficult. There is still some reticence to overcome as for the adhesion to the Ponseti’s method of treatment of clubfoot which however appears well adapted to the poor countries like ours. Conclusion : The management of talipes equinovarus in our poor conditions of practice is a perpetual challenge despite these first relatively satisfactory results. Keys words: Poverty, talipes, equinovarus, management, Cameroo