Your Child's Clubfoot Is Not A Surgical Problem

Clubfoot deformity is something very important and dear to my heart. It occurs in about 1 per 1000 live births. This is not a surgical problem any longer, except in the older child with an untreated or under corrected deformity. The treatment of clubfoot has evolved over the past 50 years to the Ponseti method. http://www.ponseti.info/v1/

I am currently working as director of education and training for the Haiti Clubfoot Project sponsored by CURE International which promotes and teaches the Ponseti method worldwide. http://www.helpcurenow.org/site/c.nvI1IeNYJyE/b.3404099/k.98E2/Cure_Clubfoot.htm

If you have a child born with clubfoot that is younger than 4 years of age, find someone who is a Ponseti follower and dedicated to the treatment method. If you have a child older than 4 years of age, I still recommend working with a Ponseti follower; but there will be a higher chance of surgery being needed to correct the deformity. If you have a child that has already been treated either by casting or surgery and has recurrence of their deformity, the Ponseti method can still be a viable option. In both the later cases, the Ponseti method used initially will more than likely lessen the severity of any surgical procedures.

In future blogs I will discuss more details of the Ponseti method of treatment and provide some tips and suggestions for your child's care. Keep in mind that with proper treatment, your child can have a relatively normal foot and do all the physical activities any child normally does.

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