Ponseti Technique in Neglected Club Foot Children with Age between 3 and 11 Years

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Ponseti treatment in neglected club foot patients. Result of this study shall help us to manage untreated or neglected patients with club foot in better way and this study shall provide platform for bigger studies on clubfoot in Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: This multicentre observational cross sectional study was conducted on retrospective data of patients registered to Ponseti Club foot Clinic between July 2013 to Dec 2016 at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi and Jinnah postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi. In this study 41 feet in 28 patients with Neglected club foot between 3 to 11 years were treated by Ponseti guidelines for older child (already walking child). Deformity was assessed with pirani scoring. Average follow up time was 3 years. RESULTS: Painless plantigrate foot was obtained in all patients. In 3 patients equinus deformity recurred. Two were managed with recasting while in the third one along with recasting and retenotomy was undertaken. In 2 patients mild varus was recurred, which was managed with recasting. One patient was lost to follow-up after 2 years. CONCLUSION: This study conclude that treatment of neglected idiopathic club foot patients presenting to us after walking age with Ponseti method according to Ponseti guidelines for older children is safe, effective and low cost method. It also reduces the risk of excessive surgical procedures.