The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of cast material on correction of congenital idiopathic clubfeet using the Ponseti method.
Congenital idiopathic clubfoot is the most common congenital deformity in children. It can be a major cause of disability for children, as well as an emotional stress for parents. The Ponseti method of clubfoot correction, consisting of serial manipulations and casting, is now the gold standard of treatment. It has traditionally been described using plaster of Paris (POP) above-knee casts; however, recently semi-rigid fiberglass softcast (SRF, 3M Scotchcast) has grown in popularity. There are currently no randomized controlled trials to prove its efficacy with respect to POP.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Alberta Children's Hospital
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
number of casts required to correct the clubfoot deformities
Time frame: time required for the foot to be ready for a percutaneous tendo-achilles tenotomy (if necessary), or when dorsiflexion of the ankle greater than or equal to 15 degrees (Pirani=0) was achieved
need for percutaneous tendo-achilles tenotomy
total time in casts (weeks)
ease of cast removal
time of cast removal
Time frame: number of minutes required for each cast removal
method(s) of cast removal
other concerns about the casting material (e.g. appearance, weight, cleaning, water resistance), and complications relating to the casting material.
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