Ponseti treatment for clubfoot in Romania: a 9-year single-centre experience

Manipulation and casting according to the Ponseti method are the 'gold standard' for clubfoot treatment, and this method is endorsed by the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. We conducted a retrospective study from January 2004 to December 2012 in our institution. All patients with idiopathic clubfoot were included, and a very strict analysis of the treatment outcomes, relapses and their treatment was carried out. A total of 382 children were included and followed up for a mean period of 6 years. The initial correction rate was 100%. At latest follow-up, the relapse rate was 19.03%, the initial correction being recovered by recasting, second or third percutaneous Achilles tenotomy or anterior tibial tendon lateral transfer. The Ponseti method is safe, efficient in the conservative treatment of clubfoot and decreases the number of surgical interventions, and the very good results are maintained through a 9 years follow-up period.