Evaluation of the Ponseti technique to assess the efficacy of Ponseti method of treatment in congenital club foot by Pirani score: an interventional study

Abstract

Objectives. Clubfoot has been an unsolved clinical challenge for the orthopedic surgeons and it is one of the congenital deformities in children. Around one lakh (100000) babies born with clubfoot deformity throughout world each year, out of which 80% cases occur in developing countries. Material and methods. A total of 23 children (32 feet) in children below 2 years of age with unilateral or bilateral idiopathic clubfoot deformity who presented to outpatient department between September 2016 to September 2018 were included in the study and were treated conservatively by use of Ponseti method. Results. The mean age of presentation was 17.9 weeks, with male to female ratio – 2.28:1. The mean initial Pirani score was 5.26±2.89. The relationship between number of casts and the respective Pirani score was assessed using the Spearmen’s rank correlation coefficient and a positive correlation was found. The mean number of casts required was 6.43 and in 68.75% feet Tendo Achilles tenotomy was needed. Conclusion. Ponseti method is a very effective method to treat idiopathic clubfoot. It avoids the complication of surgery and gives a painless, mobile, normal looking, functional foot and allows fairly good mobility.