Mid-Term Clinical Results of Patients with Congenital Talipes Equinovarus Deformity Treated with Ponseti Method

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the mid-term clinical results of manipulation and casting treatment method with Ponseti technique in patients with Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (CTEV) deformity.Patients and Methods:Thirty-five patients were treated by Ponseti technique of manipulation and casting treatment method in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Kartal Training and Research Hospital between 2005-2009 and 22 of them were males and 13 of them were females. Twenty-one of 56 feet with CTEV were 21 bilateral and 14 of them were unilateral. Clinical results were assessed according to the Pirani clubfoot severity scoring system. Treatments of all patients were initiated beginning from the moment of their application. Ages of the patients ranged between 2 days and 2 months. The total number of casts applied per patient was average 7 ± (5-11). Achillotomies of all patients were performed under conditions of the operating room. The patients were followed up for 28 ± (20-36) months after application of achillotomy and foot cast for 3 weeks and followed by Dennis Brown splint.Results: Improvement in forefoot and hindfoot scores after treatment was significant (p<0.001). Age at onset of treatment was observed to have no therapeutic effect (p>0.05). During follow-ups of treatment with abduction brace, achillotomies of two patients were required to be repeated particularly due to recurrence of equinus deformity. Achillotomy was not performed in eight patients since ankle dorsiflexion was greater than 15 degrees after serial cast treatment. Conclusion:In patients with CTEV, when Ponseti method is performed in accordance with its technique and when the patients are followed up regularly, it can be used as a successful treatment method.

Keywords

• pes eqinovarus
• ponseti method
• achillotomy
• pes ekinovarus
• ponseti yöntemi
• aşilotomi