In a paper on the surgical and mechanical treatment of such deformities Willard mentions a boy of fourteen, the victim of infantile paralysis, who at the age of eleven had never walked, but dragged his legs along.

His legs were greatly twisted, and there was flexion at right angles at the hips and knees.

There was equinovarus in the left foot and equinovalgus in the right.

By an operation of subcutaneous section at the hips, knees, and feet, with application of plaster-of-Paris and extension, this hopeless cripple walked with crutches in two months, and with an apparatus consisting of elastic straps over the quadriceps femoris, peroneals, and weakened muscles, the valgus-foot being supported beneath the sole.

In six months he was walking long distances; in one year he moved speedily on crutches.