Congenital Clubfoot Treatment Outcome with Ponseti Method is not Influenced by Nutritional Status

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Congenital clubfoot (CCF) is a common birth defect requiring early intervention.
• The Ponseti method is a widely used, effective treatment for CCF.
• The influence of preoperative nutritional status on CCF treatment outcomes is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between preoperative nutritional status and the outcomes of bilateral CCF correction using the Ponseti method in infants.
• To identify potential correlations between nutritional assessments and treatment success or recurrence rates.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 18 infants (0-2 years) with bilateral CCF treated with the Ponseti method.
• Data collection included anthropometric measurements and Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) questionnaire.
• Outcomes and complications, including recurrence, were monitored.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in birth weight, preoperative nutritional status (SGNA), or fasting time between patients with good or poor outcomes.
• Fifty percent of infants were eutrophic at birth; two presented as moderately/severely malnourished preoperatively.
• A recurrence rate of 22.2% was observed in the study cohort.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative nutritional status, assessed by SGNA and anthropometrics, does not appear to be a significant predictor of Ponseti method success in bilateral CCF.
• Further research with larger cohorts may be warranted to confirm these findings.
• The study highlights the need for continued evaluation of factors influencing CCF treatment outcomes.