title: Results of an accelerated Ponseti protocol for clubfoot.
abstract: The Ponseti method has demonstrated excellent results when performed at weekly intervals, but it is not known whether correction can be accomplished in a shorter amount of time. This study evaluated the success in correction in relation to time between casts (5 or 7 days). The authors retrospectively reviewed 230 patients (319 clubfeet). One hundred sixty-five patients (72%) had undergone previous nonsurgical treatment elsewhere. Patients were assigned to 5 or 7 days based solely on geography. Ninety percent of patients required five or fewer casts for correction, and there was no difference between groups (P = 0.85). Average time from first cast to Achilles tenotomy was 16 days for the 5-day group and 24 days for the 7-day group (P = 0.001). Three patients (1.3%) required corrective surgery and there were 36 relapses (P = 0.4). In conclusion, the Ponseti method is very effective and the deformity can be corrected in a relatively short time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. jose-morcuende@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Morcuende
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Ignacio V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Ponseti
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000601:surgery; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors