title: Walking age of infants with idiopathic clubfoot treated using the ponseti method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Ponseti method is an established approach to treating idiopathic clubfoot in infants. The method involves a period of cast immobilization and postcorrective bracing that potentially interferes with normal movements of the lower extremities. In the present study, we investigated the age at which infants who had idiopathic clubfoot treated using the Ponseti method achieved independent walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated patients of a single surgeon. Included in the study were all patients with idiopathic clubfoot who were full term at birth, were no more than twelve weeks of age at the start of treatment, had received no prior outside treatment, and were followed for a minimum of twenty-four months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-four patients were included. The mean age at which patients began walking independently was 14.5 ± 2.6 months (range, ten to twenty-two months). By eighteen months, 90% of the patients were walking without assistance. Patients with moderate or severe clubfoot deformity began walking earlier than did patients with very severe deformity (a mean of 14.2 months compared with 15.8 months; p = 0.03). Patients who experienced a relapse before learning to walk began walking later than those who did not relapse (a mean of 15.9 months compared with 14.2 months; p = 0.04). Other patient and treatment-related variables had no significant influence on the onset of walking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of our findings, parents of infants with idiopathic clubfoot treated using the Ponseti method may expect their child to achieve independent walking approximately two months later than infants without clubfoot deformity. A greater delay may be expected for those patients who have a very severe deformity or those who experience a deformity relapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Institute for Children, 403 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007. E-mail address: LZionts@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Lewis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Zionts
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Miami Children's Hospital, 3100 S.W. 62nd Avenue, Miami FL 33155.
authors.forename: Davida F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Institute for Children, 403 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007. E-mail address: LZionts@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Institute for Children, 403 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007. E-mail address: LZionts@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ebramzadeh
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Institute for Children, 403 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007. E-mail address: LZionts@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sangiorgio
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001915:Braces / Q000009:adverse effects; D002370:Casts, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects; D016138:Walking