Table 2 Limitations versus advantages of the study
Limitations | Advantages |
|---|---|
Lack of sensors in the casts to measure the compliance of patients in brace wearing | Regular follow up of the patients for two years while using a positive communication style in order to decrease the chance of recurrence |
Lack of more than 2 years long term follow up of the patients | Showing that both classification systems are related to the recurrence of the deformity |
Lack of the data of the weight of the patients and their foot length and calf volumes | Reporting cut-off points for initial Pirani and Dimeglio scores for the prediction of the recurrence (Which is not reported in the literature so far) |
Reporting a higher sensitivity for initial Pirani score than the initial Dimeglio score for prediction of the recurrence of the deformity | |
Showing that both initial Pirani and Dimeglio scores are related to the number of cast for modifying the deformity (and therefore an estimation of the duration of casting period) | |
Inclusion of patients with the same age and severity in order to decrease the possible confounding factors | |
Reporting a mathematical formula between the number of casts and the initial Pirani score (With a higher r^2 than other formulas reported before) | |
Reporting a mathematical formula between the number of casts and the initial Dimeglio score for the first time in English literature |