Henry aged 3 needing tendon transfer - has anyone else needed this??

[Guest guest]

Hi - we have just discovered that our son Henry, aged 3 and a half, will

probably need a tendon transfer. He has had Ponseti, in NZ, plus boots to

one and a half years old. Has anyone else in the Group had this experience?

We live in Britain, where Ponseti technique has only been going 4 yrs.

Please contact us - thanks in advance - parents and

[Guest guest]

Hi and ,

We're glad you are here!

I'm sorry that Henry is having a recurrence. There are a few other

parents here whose kids have had the tendon transfer; I hope they

will respond to you about their experience. It is a procedure that is

used in the Ponseti method for relapses that happen in older

children.. sometimes after an initial trial of casting. Has that been

tried with Henry? I have heard that the tendon transfer is quite

effective, and of course much less invasive than the full clubfoot

surgery.

Here are a few messages on the subject which have run in the past

that might be helpful:

Link to a messageboard post including text about Dr. Ponseti's 2001

article regarding relapses:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/message/13223

Another post on relapses, including info from Global Health booklet:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/message/20810

Another post on relapses, including info from Dr. Morcuende on

importance of bracing and various age-related risk of relapse:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/message/29612

Many children wear the brace to at least 3 years old, and it has

lately been recommended to continue till 4 and even 5 .. as insurance

against possible relapse.

I hope you hear from some of the other parents. If you do a search in

the archive for " ATTT " you will likely pull up a few leads to

messages.

Best wishes. We hope you'll stick around for help and support!

Take care,

and Claire, age 4 1/2

>

>

> Hi - we have just discovered that our son Henry, aged 3 and a half,

will

> probably need a tendon transfer. He has had Ponseti, in NZ, plus

boots to

> one and a half years old. Has anyone else in the Group had this

experience?

> We live in Britain, where Ponseti technique has only been going 4

yrs.

> Please contact us - thanks in advance - parents and

[Guest guest]

Hi and ,

Our daughter Emma had tendon transfers performed on both feet in November

2003. She was then 4 and is now doing well. Dr. Ponseti said that she will

not have another relapse and if more needs to be done it will also be minor.

The arch under Emma's left foot is still a little high but Dr. Ponseti isn't

sure if he would do anything about it yet.

I would say that the worst thing about the procedure was the 6 week period

in toe-to-groin casts, bent 90° at the knees. The surgery was painful for

Emma because the pain medication they gave wasn't effective for her. Most

children seem to do quite well and we've even heard of some being sent home

the day of the surgery. The ATTT is considered a minor operation and Dr.

Ponseti says that children who have had it done fair just as well as those

who haven't had a relapse.

How are Henry's feet doing now? Did the doctor mention why he feels he may

need the tendon transfer?

Dan

>

>

> Hi - we have just discovered that our son Henry, aged 3 and a half,

will

> probably need a tendon transfer. He has had Ponseti, in NZ, plus

boots to

> one and a half years old. Has anyone else in the Group had this

experience?

> We live in Britain, where Ponseti technique has only been going 4

yrs.

> Please contact us - thanks in advance - parents and

[Guest guest]

Dear Dan,

thank you for your reply. It is nice to know we are not alone with this

anymore. We felt very isolated when Henry was born. Dad your daughter

have the Ponseti treatment from birth like our Henry?

Ponseti has advised us over the internet that we could try keeping on

with the boots for another 2 to 3 months and then if no improvement do

a couple of casts to bring the foot back to where it should be and then

continue with the boots again. then if it still is relapsing to do a

tendon transfer. I do dread it happening I must say, but it is nice to

hear that you do survive through it.

There is also suspicion surrounding the left foot too, but it seems to

be a case of wait and see.

Will keep you posted.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

We took Emma to see Dr. Ponseti after nearly three months of unsuccessful

casting with a local doctor. Like Henry, Dr. Ponseti told us that due to

Emma having loose ligaments she could be released early at just under 2

years of age. Unfortunately, our local doctor didn't recognize the relapse

when it was occuring. We went back to Iowa where the ATTT was recommended.

The arch under the left foot is still high so she may need a small procedure

done to correct it. Dr. Ponseti said that it would require a very small

incision and three weeks in a below-the-knee cast.

Sorry I've taken so long to respond, I'll answer your other e-mail now.

Dan

Re: Re: Henry aged 3 needing tendon

transfer - has anyone else needed this??

Dear Dan,

thank you for your reply. It is nice to know we are not alone with this

anymore. We felt very isolated when Henry was born. Dad your daughter

have the Ponseti treatment from birth like our Henry?

Ponseti has advised us over the internet that we could try keeping on

with the boots for another 2 to 3 months and then if no improvement do

a couple of casts to bring the foot back to where it should be and then

continue with the boots again. then if it still is relapsing to do a

tendon transfer. I do dread it happening I must say, but it is nice to

hear that you do survive through it.

There is also suspicion surrounding the left foot too, but it seems to

be a case of wait and see.

Will keep you posted.

[Guest guest]

My son Dylan who is going to be 4 at the end of February will also

need the tendon transfer done. We are taking him for a gait study

on Friday and then we'll see Dr. Herzenberg about scheduling the

surgery.

Theresa

>

>

> Hi - we have just discovered that our son Henry, aged 3 and a

half, will

> probably need a tendon transfer. He has had Ponseti, in NZ, plus

boots to

> one and a half years old. Has anyone else in the Group had this

experience?

> We live in Britain, where Ponseti technique has only been going 4

yrs.

> Please contact us - thanks in advance - parents and