07 March 2026 : Clinical Research
Achilles Tendon Release in Clubfoot: Radiological Comparison of Needle and Scalpel Techniques
Hilmi Alkan
ABDEF 1*, Mehmet Murat Bala CG 1
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.952038
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e952038
Table 1 Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics of patients undergoing percutaneous Achilles tenotomy with a needle or a scalpel.
| Variables | Needle (n=74) | Scalpel (n=56) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | |||
| Male | 51 (68.9%) | 43 (76.8%) | 0.321 |
| Female | 23 (31.1%) | 13 (23.2%) | |
| Side | |||
| Right | 38 (51.4%) | 33 (58.9%) | 0.390 |
| Left | 36 (48.6%) | 23 (41.1%) | |
| Laterality | |||
| Bilateral | 48 (64.9%) | 32 (57.1%) | 0.124 |
| Right | 13 (17.6%) | 18 (32.1%) | |
| Left | 13 (17.6%) | 6 (10.7%) | |
| Pirani score | 4 (3.5–5.0) | 4.5 (3.5–5.0) | 0.197 |
| Dimeglio score | 13 (11–14) | 13.5 (12–15) | 0.159 |
| Age at initiation of casting (days) | 15 (14–21) | 8.5 (7–21) | 0.174 |
| Time elapsed since last cast (months) | 13 (13–18) | 15 (13–18) | 0.654 |