title: Good results after Ponseti treatment for neglected congenital clubfoot in Ethiopia. A prospective study of 22 children (32 feet) from 2 to 10 years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neglected clubfoot deformity is a major cause of disability in low-income countries. Most children with clubfoot have little access to treatment in these countries, and they are often inadequately treated. We evaluated the effectiveness of Ponseti's technique in neglected clubfoot in children in a rural setting in Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted from June 2007 through July 2010. 22 consecutive children aged 2-10 years (32 feet) with neglected clubfoot were treated by the Ponseti method. The deformity was assessed using the Pirani scoring system. The average follow-up time was 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A plantigrade functional foot was obtained in all patients by Ponseti casting and limited surgical intervention. 2 patients (4 feet) had recurrent deformity. They required re-manipulation and re-tenotomy of the Achilles tendon and 1 other patient required tibialis anterior transfer for dynamic supination deformity of the foot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the Ponseti method with some additional surgery can be used successfully as the primary treatment in neglected clubfoot, and that it minimizes the need for extensive corrective surgery.
authors.affiliation: St. Luke Catholic General Hospital, Wolliso, Ethiopia; Orthopaedic Department, Ålesund, Helse Møre and Romsdal, Norway.
authors.forename: Birhanu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ayana
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Klungsøyr
mesh_terms: D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D058971:Tenotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome