Clubfoot & Ponseti Method

kimytooby · Post time 21-6-2008 09:25 AM

Kawan,

Kimy nak share some of the info on clubfoot. I'm not from medical background but I'm one of the parent who had a baby with clubfoot.
After a year wasted our time in HKL, we went to Bangkok to find a good doctor which was recommended by a doctor who invented this treatment.

Kawan-kawan, sesiapa yang ada anak yg ada clubfoot atau sesapa yg tau anak sesapa yg ada clubfoot, kimy nak bagitau, there is an alternative that this deformity can be corrected WITHOUT SURGERY.
Anak kimy has gone 2 unnecessary surgeries in HKL but they failed to correct her feet. Kalau yang mampu tuh boleh lah gi Bumrungrad Hospital kat Bangkok, tapi pada yang tak mampu kita perlu tolong. Kimy dah jumpa sorang doctor in HUKM yang buat Ponseti method (treatment tanpa surgery tu).Here some info of the clubfoot and also Ponseti method, the treatment which can cure clubfoot without surgery.

Details, kawan2 boleh pm kimy.
Kimy nak tolong babies kat Malaysia ni able to walk as any other normal babies.Kaki baby kimy dah ok, so why dont we help others kan?

What is Clubfoot?
Clubfoot, or talipes equinovarus, is a treatable birth defect that affects approximately 150,000-200,000 children each year. When clubfoot occurs the foot is twisted inward and down, and this condition occurs during development in the womb. Physicians have observed that fetuses that develop clubfoot start with a normal foot and then the foot begins to turn inward around the third month.  Most children born with clubfoot are not missing any bones, muscles, or connective tissue. It is a congenital condition, meaning that when it occurs it is always present at birth. It is one of the most common congenital deformities. One or both feet may be affected and the affected feet can range from relatively flexible to stiff and rigid. The condition is not painful for the new born, though when a child gets to walking age, walking with an uncorrected clubfoot can be very painful and difficult, if not impossible.

When will you know?:
Parents will know at birth if their child has clubfoot because the foot will be twisted inward.  Some cases are diagnosed during a routine ultrasound. If you are wondering if your child has clubfoot, contact a physician who has experience in diagnosing this condition (not all pediatricians know how to diagnose clubfoot).

Causes:
Researchers do not know exactly what causes clubfoot. However, if either of the parents were born with clubfoot, their children are more likely to have it.

Treatment:
For years clubfoot has been treated by casting and/or surgery. Over fifty years ago Dr. Ignacio Ponseti developed a method for treating clubfoot that requires the use of over the knee casts and special protocol. The method consists of using a series of casts, gentle manipulation and the use of a special brace. This treatment is 95+% effective and it is the most cost effective treatment with no side effects. Treatment should start soon after birth.

Older Children:
Recent research has shown that the Ponseti Method is effective for children as old as ten, even in cases of failed surgery. Check out the PIA sponsored Philippines website to learn more about success stories of older children treated with clubfoot. You can also read stories written by parents of older children treated by the Ponseti method.

Clubfoot in developing countries:
Clubfoot is a serious problem in many developing countries. The majority of cases of clubfoot occur in these areas, about 80%, and there are high incidences of neglected clubfoot.  Neglected clubfoot limits the prospects of those living in developing countries as they often are unable to walk without great pain and do not have many job opportunities or the ability to carry out many daily tasks. The Ponseti method is very cost effective and various healthcare providers can perform the treatment making the Ponseti method a practical option for eradicating clubfoot around the world.

Ponseti method

Many physicians claim to be proficient in the Ponseti method, but they are not. It is not because they are 揵ad