Benefits in treatment of congenital clubfoot using the Ponseti method – less aggressive with more efficiency

Abstract

Klinice. Abstract Introduction. Clubfoot is one of the most common prob lems in pediatric orthopaedics. The treatment of clubfoot is controversial and continues to be one of the biggest chal lenges in pediatric treatment of congenital clubfoot by Ponseti method. Material and methods. The paper is based on mate rial taken from patients treated in Children’s Orthopaedic Clinic and Rehabilitation Department Medical University of Lublin between the years 2007-2011. A group of 58 patients with 69 idiopathic clubfeet was followed prospectively while being managed with the Ponseti method. Results. During the analysis of our final results we pre sented the data after follow-up of all patients (median 26 months), together with a sub-analysis of patients according to Pirani’s scale. It assessed the severity of clubfoot deform ity and the response for treatment. The scores for all patients before the treatment ranged from 4.5 to 6 points. After the treatment we accomplished a score of 0.5 to1.5 points in all 69 treated feet. We evaluated the results of treatment as good or very good for 92% of patients. As comparison we retrospec tively analyzed 125 patients treated between 1990-2000 with various type of operations. Those procedures ranged from a percutaneous heelcord lengthening to a wide release of me -dial, posterior, and lateral structures, with or without transfer of the anterior tibial tendon. Conclusions. Our Pon because in satisfactory re and there been no recurrences that are using this