Narrative Review of the objective analysis of long-term outcome of the Ponseti technique: experience from Dallas

In 2001, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRH) prospectively began a clubfoot database that included all of our patients with clubfeet who were willing to enroll. Nonoperative treatment, primarily the Ponseti method, was utilized. This article summarizes the experience from Dallas treating idiopathic clubfeet using the Ponseti technique, and is based on previously published studies utilizing information from the database. Patient clinical outcomes were defined as “good” (plantigrade foot achieved either with or without a percutaneous heel-cord tenotomy), “fair” (a plantigrade foot that required a limited procedure, such as tibialis anterior tendon transfer or posterior release), or “poor” (a plantigrade foot that required posteromedial release). Nearly 95% of idiopathic clubfeet obtained initial correction using the Ponseti technique, but relapses occurred and by age two years 24% needed some surgical intervention, usually limited procedures. Use of Dimeglio’s rating system before treatment strongly correlated with the probability of a “good” outcome at two years. Objective measurements of brace wear compliance (iButton) in those who reached age two years with “good” outcomes demonstrated an unexpected pattern of diminishing use of the foot abduction orthoses over the first two years of brace wear. By the 18-month period of brace wear, 1/3 patients wore the orthoses less than 6 hours per day, and nearly half of the patients wore the orthoses less than 8 hours per day. Between ages 2–5 years, nearly 21% of the corrected clubfeet at age two years needed limited procedures to maintain/regain plantigrade positioning. Lateral weight-bearing radiographs between 18–24 months were not helpful in predicting future relapse in these patients, and are no longer routinely obtained. Following these patients for normal development is important, as nearly 9% of infants initially presenting as idiopathic clubfeet were eventually found to have another disorder including neurological, syndromic, chromosomal, or spinal abnormalities. We continue to emphasize the need to devote great attention to detail when using the Ponseti method in an effort to optimize the clinical outcomes.