Clubfoot treatment according Ponseti

The treatment according to Ignacio Ponseti is a special manual redression with gradual correction according to anatomical aspects. In general, a full correction can be achieved after three to eight plaster sessions without surgery. The completion of the plaster redression, is followed by a period during which a special splint must be worn throughout the day for three months and after three months only at night, until the age of four years. This phase is necessary for therapeutic success. The parents are usually taught to invest very consistently in this phase. The children treated according to this method usually accept wearing the aforementioned splint without any problems. In the case of clubfeet treated according Ponseti, physical therapy is not necessary.

There are idiopathic (or primary) clubfeet that have arisen without any further cause. Secondary clubfeet are caused by other diseases (such as spina bifida, spasticity, injuries, etc.). The causes of idiopathic clubfeet are still unknown, a genetic component is most likely. Frequent occurrence of clubfeet is observed in some families. With the right treatment, a child with clubfeet can lead a very normal life!

"When a baby has no other restrictions outside the congenital clubfeet, the parents of the baby can be ensured:
If treated by experienced hands, your child will have normal looking feet with normal functionality that can be used for all activities. The well-treated clubfoot is no obstacle and is fully compatible with a normal, active life. "

Ignacio V. Ponseti, M.D.

PONSETI - the gentle way to strong feet

The Ponseti treatment corrects young clubfeet by carefully guiding them outwards in a special sequence of movements followed by a heel-cord release. This painless treatment is repeated once a week for approximately 5 to 7 weeks. After this, the small inward turned foot has become a fairly straight outwardly directed foot. In 80 to 90% of the feet, however, the Achilles tendon is still too short, causing the toes pointing downwards. That is why the Achilles tendon is incised and the foot is casted for another 3 weeks, so the tendon regains its correct length. This works perfectly with the tendon fully recovering. Now the feet almost look like those of a child without clubfeet, only the skin around the ankle the foot has many small wrinkles (where the skin had previously been stretched and is has "too much"). These wrinkles disappear over the years.

To keep the feet this beautiful, it is necessary to wear a splint. This orthosis consists of two shoes attached to the ends of flat component. This keeps the feet - like the cast - in an outwardly turned position. This way the feet are stretched again and again, so they do not fall back into their clubfeet position.

This orthosis is worn by the child until the 4th birthday. After the last cast, the splint is worn around the clock for 3 months (23 hours a day) and then only during sleep (12 to 14 hours a day).

This soft / friendly method makes surgical intervention of a radical clubfoot operation completely unnecessary in more than 90% of the feet. Surgery is still the standard in most places!

Many doctors do not know this method or do not believe it - wrong! Studies that have successfully followed corrected clubfeet over a long period of time, and that documented the great functionality of these feet for 40 years, show impressively good results of this gentle therapy!

The fact that this treatment has no open intervention on soft tissues, joints or bones, is generally much less stressful and risky for the child. Moreover, the long-term results, as previously documented, are better than with a major operation.