Early results of treatment for congenital clubfoot using the Ponseti method

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early results of the Ponseti method in reducing extensive corrective surgery rates for congenital idiopathic clubfoot in patients treated in Children's Orthopaedic Clinic and Rehabilitation Department Medical University of Lublin between the years 2007-2011. Thirty-five patients with 47 idiopathic clubfeet were followed prospectively while being managed with the Ponseti method. Clubfoot severity was graded with use of the Dimeglio system. The initial correction was achieved, and early results were measured by using Pirani scoring method.     

Evaluation of the treatment of idiopathic clubfoot by using the Ponseti method

The initial treatment of congenital idiopathic talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) is most often nonsurgical. However, surgical treatment in the form of posteromedial release is often undertaken after failure of conservative measures. The prevalence of both immediate and long-term complications in surgically treated clubfeet has cultivated a renewed interest in nonsurgical treatment. The Ponseti method for treating clubfoot has seen a revived interest among those caring for infantile clubfeet. We report on our first 34 infants (57 clubfeet) treated by using the techniques and principles described by Ponseti. Using a standard scoring system, 54 of 57 clubfeet were successfully corrected without requiring posteromedial release. Only 2 patients (3 clubfeet) required extensive surgical correction. There were 6 relapses. In all recurrent cases, there was a lack of compliance with the straight-last shoe and foot abduction bar regimen. Based on this level of initial success, we believe that posteromedial release is no longer necessary for the majority of cases of congenital clubfeet.     

Progression of idiopathic clubfoot correction using the Ponseti method

The Ponseti technique involves sequential clubfoot correction by abduction, supination, and finally dorsiflexion. Although shown to be effective, correction progression has not been examined. The Dimeglio/Bensahel classification system was used to analyze heel equinus, varus, midfoot rotation, adduction, posterior crease, medial crease, and cavus initially and after each casting. From 2000 to 2008, 123 patients (185 feet) with idiopathic clubfeet, aged below 60 days, without prior treatment were grouped by number of casts required. Successive castings achieved goals of reducing cavus and medial crease first, then gradually correcting midfoot rotation, adduction, and heel varus. Unexpectedly, heel equinus improved simultaneously with midfoot variables, as well as with final casting.     

改良Ponseti方法治疗先天性马蹄内翻足疗效

[目的]评价改良Ponseti方法治疗先天性马蹄内翻足疗效.[方法]在Ponseti方法(连续石膏矫形加经皮跟腱切断加足外展矫形支具)的基础上稍加改良,并应用于治疗先天性马蹄内翻足76例116足,男52例80足,女24例36足;年龄5 d～4岁.[结果]本组病例76例均得到随访,平均随访25.5个月,最长46个月,按Dimeglio评分分级方法,76例116足中73例112足(96.5%)畸形矫正满意.[结论]改良Ponseti方法对4岁以内的婴幼儿先天性马蹄内翻足均可取得满意的效果.     

Early results of the Ponseti method for the treatment of idiopathic clubfoot

AIM: The Ponseti method for the treatment of congenital clubfeet has been propagated due to the sometimes disappointing functional results after surgical treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate our early results and experiences with the Ponseti method. METHOD: Between December 2002 and December 2004 a total of 87 clubfeet in 59 patients were treated using the Ponseti method at our department. Only patients in whom treatment was initiated within the first three weeks of life were included in this study. Rate of successful correction without open release surgery, radiological findings, classification according to Pirani at the time of the last follow up, recurrence rate and duration of treatment were defined as outcome measures for this prospective study. RESULTS: Fifty-nine cases in 37 patients met the inclusion criteria. Ninety-three percent of all cases (55 feet) were corrected without open surgery. The mean duration of active treatment was 11.4 weeks (8-20 weeks). The mean tibiocalcaneal angle 3-4 weeks after the percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon was 69 degrees, the mean a.-p.-talocalcaneal angle measured 33 degrees and the lateral talocalcaneal angle 36 degrees. A recurrence was seen in one patient with bilateral clubfeet (3.6 %). CONCLUSION: Open release surgery can be averted in most cases of idiopathic clubfoot using the Ponseti method. Scarring of the soft tissue and especially of the joint capsule can thereby be avoided.     

An accelerated Ponseti versus the standard Ponseti method: a prospective randomised controlled trial

We conducted a prospective randomised controlled trial to compare the standard Ponseti plaster method with an accelerated method for the treatment of idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus. The standard weekly plaster-change method was accelerated to three times per week. We hypothesised that both methods would be equally effective in achieving correction. A total of 40 consecutive patients (61 feet) were entered into the trial. The initial median Pirani score was 5.5 (95% confidence interval 4.5 to 6.0) in the accelerated group and 5.0 (95% confidence interval 4.0 to 5.0) in the standard control group. The scores decreased by an average 4.5 in the accelerated group and 4.0 in the control group. There was no significant difference in the final Pirani score between the two groups (chi-squared test, p = 0.308). The median number of treatment days in plaster was 16 in the accelerated group and 42 in the control group (p < 0.001). Of the 19 patients in the accelerated group, three required plaster treatment for more than 21 days and were then assigned to the standard control method. Of the 40 patients, 36 were followed for a minimum of six months. These results suggest that comparable outcomes can be achieved with an accelerated Ponseti method. The ability to complete all necessary manipulations within a three-week period facilitates treatment where patients have to travel long distances.     

Ponseti法治疗先天性马蹄内翻足疗效分析

[目的]评价采用Ponseti法治疗1岁以内先天性马蹄内翻足的疗效。[方法]2005年4月~2008年10月,本院骨科共收治先天性马蹄内翻足病例125例138足,男98例106足,女27例32足,年龄7 d~12个月。按年龄分为新生儿期(7~28 d)、小婴儿期(29 d~6个月)、婴儿期(6~12个月)三组,均按D im eglio评分系统进行评分,应用Ponseti法(手法矫正+石膏固定+经皮跟腱切断+足外展支具)治疗。[结果]病例随访13~42个月,平均25.3个月。按D im eglio评分系统评价疗效,120例132足矫形效果满意,5例6足残余部分畸形行手术治疗。各年龄组治疗优良率无显著差异(P0.05)。[结论]Ponseti法治疗先天性马蹄内翻足疗效确切,是一种很好的保守治疗方法。对于1岁以内先天性马蹄足均可取得优良效果。     

Treatment of idiopathic clubfoot using the Ponseti method: minimum 2-year follow-up

One hundred and thirty-seven idiopathic clubfeet were treated by the Ponseti technique and followed for at least 2 years. Nine feet (7%) were not corrected with initial casting and required early surgery. Recurrence after correction was related to compliance with bracing. At latest follow-up, two-thirds of those noncompliant with brace had recurrences with one-third of these recurrences requiring more extensive surgery than Achilles tenotomy and anterior tibial tendon transfer while only 14% of those compliant with brace had recurrences with none requiring more than Achilles tenotomy and anterior tibial tendon transfer. Early failures and recurrences constituted about 20% of our 137 feet by 2 years of follow-up. When the Ponseti method was fully followed, including initial casting, compliance with brace and treatment of recurrences by recasting, Achilles tenotomy and/or anterior tibial tendon transfer, our success rate was 93%.     

改良Ponseti方法治疗早期先天性马蹄内翻足

先天性马蹄内翻足（congenital clubfoot,CCF）是小儿足部常见的一种先天性畸形,表现为足马蹄、后足内翻、前足内收、高弓。该病严重影响患儿的成长发育、身心健康及日后的生活,目前治疗CCF的办法很多,但复发率较高,不但增加手术次数,而且增加患者治疗费用,也带来不必要的残疾。目前国际公认的早期保守治疗的较好方法是Ponseti方法,     

Treatment of congenital clubfoot with the Ponseti method

AIM: The primary therapy for congenital clubfoot is non-surgical involving manipulation and serial casting. With traditional casting, relatively large numbers of feet require extensive surgery to achieve full correction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Ponseti method. METHODS: Between 1.1.2004 und 31.12.2005, 29 patients with 41 clubfeet were treated with the Ponseti method. Only patients without any prior treatment were included. Classification followed Pirani's score. The number of casts to full correction, tenotomies, number of posteromedial releases, dorsi-, plantarflexion and hindfoot position were documented. The follow-up time was 1-9 months, the average follow-up time was 9.1 months. RESULTS: 39 clubfeet were successfully treated with the Ponseti method. The average Pirani score was 4.9. Percutaneous tenotomies were necessary in 34 of the clubfeet. Average dorsiflexion was 19 degrees and plantarflexion 42 degrees . After failed Ponseti treatment 2 feet were treated with a posteromedial release. CONCLUSION: With the Ponseti method the need for extensive corrective surgery is greatly reduced. We recommend the Ponseti method as standard therapy in clubfoot management.     

Midterm results of the Ponseti method in the treatment of congenital clubfoot

Purpose

The Ponseti method has become the gold standard for clubfoot treatment. Although promising short-term results have been published, only a few studies report results at the end of the bracing period. We aimed to evaluate the functional midterm results, rate of recurrence and need for subsequent surgery.

Methods

Patients from our prospective database of clubfeet treated with the Ponseti method with a minimum age of three years were identified. Exclusion criteria were syndrome or neurogenic association, address in a foreign country, presentation after six weeks of age, more than three casts applied elsewhere and correction with less than three casts. A total of 125 patients met the inclusion criteria. The Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), the disease-specific instrument (DSI) questionnaire and an invitation for a clinical examination were sent out. For patients not presenting for evaluation, data from the last follow-up were extracted.

Results

Seventy questionnaires (56 %) of patients with a mean age of 5.7 years (3.3–8.9 years) were returned. The DSI score (n = 65) was 85.3 (± 13.01 SD) and the PODCI score (n = 59) was 95.5 (± 6.3 SD). A total of 113 of 125 patients (90.4 %) with 182 clubfeet were examined in the study or seen in follow-up. During a mean follow-up of 5.2 years (range 3–8.5 years) a repeat tenotomy was performed in 4 % of cases, a percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening in 3 %, a tibialis anterior tendon transfer in 13 % and open joint surgery in 5 %. The mean dorsiflexion with knee extended was 15.9° (range 0–32°; SD ±5.5) with 16 feet (9 %) presenting less than 10°.

Conclusions

The functional scores indicate that the Ponseti method results in mostly pain-free feet not limiting age-appropriate activity. In this consecutive case series open joint surgery could be avoided in 95 % of cases with a good functional and anatomic outcome.     

A modification of the Ponseti method for clubfoot management: a prospective comparative study

PurposeWe aimed to compare our parent-based exercise programem’s efficacy with the foot abduction brace (FAB) Ponseti manipulation as a retention programme.MethodsWe conducted this prospective multicentre cohort study between August 2009 and November 2019. The included children were allocated into one of two groups according to the retention protocol. The Pirani and Laaveg-Ponseti scores were used to assess the feet clinically and functionally. Radiological assessment was performed using standing anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the feet. We assessed the parents’ satisfaction and adherence to the retention method. SPSS version 25 was used for the statistical analysis.ResultsA total of 1265 feet in 973 children were included. Group A included 637 feet managed with FAB, while group B included 628 feet managed with our retention programme. All patients were followed up to the age of four years. At the final follow-up, Pirani scores in group A participants were excellent, good and poor in 515, 90, and 32 feet, respectivel, while in group B the scores were excellent, good and poor in 471, 110 and 44 feet, respectively. The mean total score of Laaveg-Ponseti was 87.81 (sd 19.82) in group A and 90.55 (sd 20.71) in group B (p = 0.02). Group B participants showed higher satisfaction with the treatment method (p = 0.011) and more adherence to the treatment (p = 0.013).ConclusionThe deformity’s recurrence related to the brace’s non-compliance in the Ponseti method might be reduced by substituting the brace with our home-based daily stretching exercises.Level of EvidenceII     

Ponseti法矫正不同月龄先天性马蹄内翻足疗效分析

[目的]探讨采用Ponseti法矫正不同月龄先天性马蹄内翻足的疗效。[方法]将2010年1月～2015年1月于本院采用Ponseti法矫正先天性马蹄内翻足的患儿共528例704足纳入本研究。根据年龄不同分为三组:新生儿期95例148足,小婴儿期262例342足,婴儿期169例214足。采用Ponseti法进行治疗,主要包括手法矫正、石膏固定、经皮跟腱切断和足外展支具固定。术后随访,治疗前后采用Dmieglio评分系统进行评分及分型。[结果]各月龄组均随Dmieglio分型等级增加,石膏固定次数显著增多,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。但各Dmieglio分型等级,不同月龄组患儿的患足石膏固定次数差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。各月龄分组患儿治疗前Dmieglio评分随分型等级增加而增加,组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);各月龄分组患儿末次随访时Dmieglio评分随分型等级增加而增加,组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);各月龄分组中,与治疗前相比,各Dmieglio分型患儿末次随访时Dmieglio评分均有所降低,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。相同时间点,各Dmieglio分型患儿在不同月龄分组间差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。528例704足中,507例673足疗效满意,其中新生儿期组优良率为96.08%、小婴儿期组为95.45%、婴儿期组为95.57%,三组间临床结果优良率的差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。[结论]对于1岁以内的先天性马蹄内翻足幼儿,Ponseti法保守治疗的矫形效果确切,疗效与Dmieglio分型相关。     

Ponseti method treatment of neglected idiopathic clubfoot:Preliminary results of a multi-center study in Nigeria

AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of the Ponseti method for initial correction of neglected clubfoot cases in multiple centers throughout Nigeria.METHODS Patient charts were reviewed through the International Clubfoot Registry for 12 different Ponseti clubfoot treatment centers and 328 clubfeet(225 patients) met inclusion criteria. All patients were treated by the method described by Ponseti including manipulation and casting with percutaneous Achilles tenotomy as needed.RESULTS A painless plantigrade foot was obtained in 255 feet(78%) without the need for extensive soft tissue release and/or bony procedures.CONCLUSION We conclude that the Ponseti method is a safe, effective and low-cost treatment for initial correction of neglected idiopathic clubfoot presenting after walking age. Longterm follow-up will be required to assess outcomes.     

先天性马蹄内翻足Ponseti治疗初跟腱手术的预测

目的探讨先天性马蹄内翻足（CCF）患儿治疗前预测患儿行跟腱手术的可行性。方法96例CCF（148足）患儿,均依据Ponseti方法治疗,平均（5.7±1.3）次石膏矫正后,背屈活动≤15°或Pirani评分HS（后足评分）≥1,MS（中足评分）〈1的患足需行跟腱切断手术。石膏去除后需佩戴外展支具。结果经过系列石膏矫正后,148足中125足（84.5%）行跟腱切断术,23足（15.5%）未行跟腱手术。在治疗初有102足（68.9%）Pirani评分≥5分,其中93足（91.2%）经系列石膏矫正后行跟腱手术。手术组跟腱愈合佳,跖屈有力。结论在治疗初Pirani评分≥5分时91.2%患儿需要跟腱手术,CCF患儿初次来诊时,对患足行Pirani评分,即可预测其是否需行跟腱手术。在治疗初预先判断患儿是否需行跟腱手术则既有利于医师了解治疗进展,又能更好地与家长沟通配合治疗进程。     

Treatment of clubfoot with the Ponseti method: a comparison of casting materials

BACKGROUND: Popular initial treatment for congenital clubfoot includes the use of serial manipulations and casting as described by Ponseti et al. Plaster of Paris and semirigid fiberglass are 2 materials commonly used for casting. To our knowledge, no study to date has compared the clinical results of these 2 materials. The objective of this randomized prospective study was to compare the effectiveness of these materials in the initial management of clubfoot. METHODS: All clubfeet presenting to the 2 senior authors' outpatient clinics over a 15-month period were offered enrollment. Patients were randomly assigned for treatment with either plaster or semirigid fiberglass casts. The severity of the clubfoot deformity was documented using the scoring system devised by Diméglio et al. Serial casts were applied according to the technique described by Ponseti et al. At the completion of nonsurgical treatment, the final clubfoot severity was documented. RESULTS: A total of 42 clubfeet in 34 patients were enrolled in the study. After exclusion of 3 patients, 13 patients (16 feet) received fiberglass, and 18 patients (23 feet) received plaster casts. The mean baseline severity scores of the 2 groups were not significantly different. The mean final severity score was significantly higher in the feet treated with fiberglass than those treated with plaster (6.4 vs 4.1; P = 0.037). There was a trend toward higher scores for cast tolerance, durability, and parent satisfaction in the fiberglass group, but this did not reach significance. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the use of plaster casting with the Ponseti technique. The use of plaster casts resulted in a statistically lower Diméglio-Bensahel score at the completion of serial casting. There was a trend toward higher patient satisfaction in the fiberglass-treated group. Whether this difference has an effect on long-term outcomes and recurrence remains to be studied. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II. Nonblinded randomized controlled prospective study.