The Ponseti method is the only method available presently to correct the foot in such a way that the foot is flexible, scar-less, painless and normal in appearance and use.
The Ponseti method is named after a Spanish orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ignacio Ponseti who developed and practiced this conservative method while serving children at the University of Iowa in the USA. Surgical correction used to be a very popular method to treat clubfoot. A non-surgical method developed by Dr Kite became popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Dr Ponseti’s further research on the kinematics of the foot helped him modify Dr Kite’s method by suggesting, (i) the head of the talus bone as the fulcrum (Kites method used calcaneus as fulcrum). (ii) Dr Ponseti also advocated the importance of tenotomy for all children (except postural clubfoot) and (iii) further reinforced the use of a long-term foot abduction brace to prevent a recurrence.
The advantage of the Ponseti method is that the child’s foot is corrected within four to six weeks, remains normal-looking, flexible, and pliable and if the foot is maintained well without any recurrence for the first five years, unnecessary complications could be prevented for a lifetime. Often the child’s foot is so well corrected with this method that these children can play, run, walk, and dance like any other child born without any birth deformities.
The Ponseti method is widely known as a non-surgical method. It is a method where the foot is corrected with regular weekly gentle manipulation and plaster casting for approximately four to six weeks. The final cast is given after a simple procedure called tenotomy (cutting of tendon). Once casting and correction are complete, the child will need to wear special shoes (foot abduction brace) for four to five years to prevent any relapse or recurrence.
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