Ponseti technique of correcting idiopathic clubfoot deformity.

The efficacy of the Ponseti method of clubfoot treatment at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) was analysed from December 2000 to December 2001. Ninety one patients, 60 boys and 31 girls were prospectively and consecutively enrolled. 31 patients had a unilateral clubfoot and 60 had bilateral clubfeet. 77 patients had primary idiopathic clubfoot and 14 patients had clubfeet associated with other congenital anomalies such as arthrogryposis. 32 patients (35%) were lost to follow up; records were inadequate for 6 patients leaving 54 patients (59%) available for analysis. Three main groups were assessed. Group 1 (24 patients): virgin previously untreated primary idiopathic clubfeet: Ponseti method used from outset. Group 2 (19 patients): complex, primary idiopathic clubfeet: Ponseti method introduced after other manipulation techniques. Group 3 (11 patients): clubfeet associated with other congenital anomalies. In group 1, the mean age at start of treatment was 9.7 weeks and the mean time to correction of deformity was 7.4 weeks. 20 out of 24 patients (84%) had correction of deformity and remained corrected. 4 patients had recurrence of deformity mainly due to non compliance with treatment and correction was achieved once treatment restarted. In group 2, 19 patients had been on treatment for a mean period of 32 weeks prior to commencement of Ponseti treatment. In 17 of these patients the deformity was still uncorrected. Ponseti treatment was commenced at a mean age of 36 weeks and correction was achieved in all 17 patients after a mean treatment duration of 7.1 weeks. In group 3, correction of deformity was initially achieved in only 60%. The period to achieve correction was long and incidence of recurrence of deformity was high. The success of conservative treatment of clubfeet using the Ponseti method has resulted in large decrease in the number of surgical procedures performed under general anaesthaesia such as posteromedial releases in the treatment of clubfeet at QECH. This method has now been adopted as the Standard treatment of clubfoot and is being advocated nationwide.