Complex foot deformities associated with soft-tissue scarring in children.

Two cases of deformities in scarred feet are presented. One case had an old, well healed forefoot amputation with severe equinovarus deformity, and the other had an equinus deformity following a burn injury 10 months prior. Both the cases were managed by primary release of the contracted joint capsules. The correction of the soft-tissue contractures was achieved by gradual distraction using the Ilizarov apparatus. The clinical presentation and surgical treatment of complex foot deformities, complicated by the presence of scar tissue, are presented. These cases illustrate the benefits of combining soft-tissue release with the Ilizarov technique of distraction histogenesis in the treatment of complicated foot deformities associated with scarring in pediatric patients.