Relapse Pattern in Club Foot Treated with Ponseti Technique - A Prospective Observational Study from Kerala, India

BACKGROUND Though the Ponseti method has become the popular and standard of care for clubfoot correction, relapse of clubfoot deformity following correction is not uncommon. The relapsed feet can progress from flexible to rigid if left untreated and can become as severe as the initial deformity. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relapse pattern in clubfeet that have undergone treatment with the Ponseti method. METHODS Between 2015 and 2017, 78 children (134 feet), 58 boys and 20 girls were included in this study. It was a prospective observational study of relapse patterns in idiopathic clubfoot after one year of completion of the Ponseti method of treatment. Pirani scoring system was used to identify the relapse. RESULTS Dynamic, fixed, and complete relapse patterns were observed in this study. Patients were categorised into two groups - bilateral and unilateral. In the bilateral group, 18 children (36 feet i.e. 23 %) had decreased ankle dorsiflexion, 5 had (10 feet i.e. 6 %) rigid equinus, 22 had (44 feet i.e., 29 %) dynamic forefoot adduction or supination and 5 had (10 feet i.e. 6 %) fixed adduction in forefoot and midfoot. Six children from the bilateral group showed complete relapse. Among the unilateral group, 8 children (8 feet i.e. 36 %) presented with decreased ankle dorsiflexion, 4 had (4 feet i.e. 18 %) rigid equinus relapse, 6 had (6 feet i.e. 27 %) dynamic forefoot adduction or supination and 4 had (4 feet i.e. 18 %) showed fixed forefoot adduction. CONCLUSIONS Dynamic forefoot adduction or supination pattern is common to relapse pattern in the bilateral group and dynamic hind-foot relapse was common in the unilateral group. Age at initial presentation, initial Pirani score, and the number of casts required were not significantly related to the incidence of relapse. KEYWORDS Club Foot, CTEV, Ponseti Method, Relapse Pattern