Ponseti In The Treatment Of Congenital Clubfoot

Objective In order to figure out if Ponseti procedure was effective at the infancy stage of life,we observed the infants with congenital clubfoot who started treatment at 1 year old.Methods We collected the cases of 130 patients,A total of 192 feet,with congenital clubfoot(age range from 3 weeks to12 months)from October 2008 to January 2013.Two experimental groups were prepared according to age,comprised of the younger infancy group(≤6 months)and the older infancy group(>6 months,and≤12 months).All patients had been treated with Ponseti method.At the time of follow-up,the results were evaluated using the the scores of Diméglio.The number of cast and rate of percutaneous tendoachilles tenotomy in the two groups were recorded.And all data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0.Result 108 patients(158 feet)finished follow-up study.The mean length of follow-up was 5.37 ±1.06 years(range from 4 to 8 years).The overall excellence rate was 92.41%.The excellence rate of the younger infancy group and the older infancy group were 92.59% and 92.31% respectively(P>0.05).After treatment,4 feet in the younger infancy group,8 feet in the older infancygroup(totally 12 feet)didn’t persisted wearing orthosis and reoccurred deformity.The number of casts used and the performance rate of percutaneous tendoachilles tenotomy in the younger infancy group,were both less than the older infancy group.And the difference between the two groups were obviously significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Ponseti method is an efficacy way to treat congenital clubfoot,especially with patient started treatment at 6 months after birth.The most common cause of relapse is noncompliance of the bracing program or not persist using orthosis.