Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

This study looks at whether orthopaedic clinical officers, a cadre of clinicians who are not doctors, can effectively manipulate idiopathic clubfeet using the Ponseti technique. One hundred consecutive cases of uncomplicated idiopathic clubfeet in newborn babies were manipulated by orthopaedic clinical officers. Fifty-seven of these were fully corrected to a plantigrade position by Ponseti manipulation alone, and a further 41 were corrected by manipulation followed by a simple percutaneous tenotomy. Orthopaedic clinical officers therefore corrected 98 out of 100 feet; the remaining 2 feet were referred for surgical correction. This shows that the Ponseti method is suitable for use by nonmedical personnel in the developing world to achieve a plantigrade foot.

Original publication

DOI

10.1097/01.bpo.0000164876.97949.6b

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Pediatr Orthop

Publication Date

2005

Volume

25

Pages

627 - 629

Keywords

Achilles Tendon, Casts, Surgical, Clubfoot, Combined Modality Therapy, Developing Countries, Humans, Infant, Malawi, Manipulation, Orthopedic, Physician Assistants, Range of Motion, Articular, Treatment Outcome