Factors affecting adherence with foot abduction orthosis following Ponseti method.
OBJECTIVE
The Ponseti method is an effective protocol for treatment of congenital idiopathic clubfoot. Foot abduction orthosis (FAO) is sometimes necessary to preserve the correction achieved with the serial casting and tenotomy. Patient and family adherence to brace use is a common problem, as nonadherence is directly related to relapse. The aim of this study was to investigate patient and parent characteristics related to relapse.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-three children who were treated with Ponseti method (mean age: 44.62 months; range: 16-104 months) and their parents were included in the study. Thirty-one patients experienced relapse at an average follow-up of 32 months (range: 6-84 months) since beginning orthosis use. At the time of follow-up visits, parents were questioned about brace use adherence. Satisfaction with Symptoms Scale in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) was used.


RESULTS
Difficulties with brace use were encountered in 122 children. Children of parents who were satisfied with the treatment had relapse at an average of 69.13±2.64 months, and those of parents who were not satisfied at 32.83±7.51 months. The most important variable was the child's adaptation to the orthosis treatment without an adverse reaction. Additionally, better compliance was found in children with higher-educated parents.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-compliance with periods of intolerance is very common for children during orthosis treatment. Parents' coping strategies are very important to avoid relapses. It is important to develop strategies to guide parents.
İstanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, İstanbul, Turkey.
Süleyman Bora
SB
Göksan
İstanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, İstanbul, Turkey.
Fuat
F
Bilgili
Koç University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, İstanbul, Turkey.
İlker
İ
Eren
Baltalimanı Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, İstanbul, Turkey.
Ayşegül
A
Bursalı
İstanbul University, Faculty of Health Science Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Division, İstanbul, Turkey.
Eylem
E
Koç
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D061826:Foot Orthoses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012008:Recurrence; D058971:Tenotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome