Abstract |
We undertook a randomised clinical trial to compare treatment times and failure rates between above- and below-knee Ponseti casting groups. Eligible children with idiopathic clubfoot, treated using the Ponseti method, were randomised to either below- or above-knee plaster of Paris casting. Outcome measures were total treatment time and the occurrence of failure, defined as two slippages or a treatment time above eight weeks. A total of 26 children (33 feet) were entered into the trial. The above-knee group comprised 17 feet in 13 children (ten boys and three girls, median age 13 days (1 to 40)) and the below-knee group comprised 16 feet in 13 children (ten boys and three girls, median age 13 days (5 to 20)). Because of six failures (37.5%) in the below-knee group, the trial was stopped early for ethical reasons. The rate of failure was significantly higher in the below-knee group (p = 0.039). The median treatment times of six weeks in the below-knee and four weeks in the above-knee group differed significantly (p = 0.01). This study demonstrates that the use of a below-knee plaster of Paris cast in conjunction with the Ponseti technique leads to unacceptably high failure rates and significantly longer treatment times. Therefore, this technique is not recommended.
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Authors | S N Maripuri, P D Gallacher, J Bridgens, J H Kuiper, N T Kiely |
Journal | The bone & joint journal
(Bone Joint J)
Vol. 95-B
Issue 11
Pg. 1570-4
(Nov 2013)
ISSN: 2049-4408 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 24151281
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Calcium Sulfate
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Casts, Surgical
(adverse effects, statistics & numerical data)
- Child
- Clubfoot
(surgery, therapy)
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Knee Joint
(surgery)
- Male
- Orthopedic Procedures
(adverse effects, methods)
- Prospective Studies
- Treatment Failure
- Treatment Outcome
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