hi everyone I was told that maybe you guys can help

[Guest guest]

hi My name is Mindy and I was joined to the club foot and they refered

me here does anyone have the article about the dennis brown bar that

was cruel to children.?

[Guest guest]

Hi Mindy! And welcome to the group, we're glad you found us!

I think the article you are referring to is a message I sent a few weeks ago.

It was not about how the Denis Browne Bar is cruel to children, but rather about

how the doctor who invented it was not particularly kind in his treatment

method. Keep in mind that this was a long time ago and that things have changed

considerably since then. I'm pasting that message in at the end here.

The DBB/FAB may look like some kind of torture device, but babies can really do

just about anything while wearing it.

I read some of what you wrote about your son's treatment on the clubfoot list

and so far as I can tell, it really does not sound like your son is receiving

the Ponseti method of treatment. One very important thing is that the feet must

be fully corrected BEFORE they go into the FAB/DBB. The FAB does not do any of

the work of correcting the feet, it is more like a retainer to prevent the foot

from reverting the the clubbed state (as in when you have braces on your teeth,

once they are nice and straight, you wear a retainer to keep them that way).

And, from your description, it doesn't sound like your son's feet are fully

corrected. The feet should look very much like " normal " feet and be flat on the

ground when your baby is standing on them. In the hands of a doctor who is

following the Ponseti method closely and well, this correction is usually

attained with 5-7 weekly casts and a quick procedure where the Achilles tendon

(at the top of the heel) is cut.

A terrific resource for finding out much more is this link of sites compiled by

a parent. It includes a " checklist for parents " to help you determine whether

your doctor is really following the Ponseti method.

http://members.tripod.com/ponseti_links-ivil//index.html

Where are you located? Chances are that we can refer you to an experienced

doctor near you--or at least the one nearest you. Many of us travel pretty far

to seek treatment from doctors who are doing this right (in our case, that's 600

miles round trip).

Please let us know if there are other things and questions we can help you with.

Naomi

The Family

Naomi Hannah(02/21/01) Jonah(06/20/03, bilateral clubfoot, FAB 14/7)

_________________ Pasted message____________________________________

I have been reading the book on clubfoot treatment by J.H. Kite, written in

1964. It has a fair amount of historical discussion on the treatment of

clubfoot. I thought some of you might be interested in this, from the section

entitled " Denis Browne Splint " . At least because it explains why Dr Ponseti

objects to using the term DBB.

Non-operative, not always so wonderful.

Denis Browne, surgeon to the Hospital for Sick Children in London, has written

many articles to prove his theory that most congenital deformities are due to

intrauterine pressure. Browne recommends the method of treatment which he

described in 1934. He says that function is more important than structure. “The

talipes foot is not corrected until it will go up with the slightest pressure

into a full calcaneo-valgus—that is to say, till the back of the little toe

touches the outer side of the leg. Anything less means imperfect reduction of

the deformity. Full correction must be obtained at the first manipulation.

When the foot is slowly pulled around it gives at its weakest point, the

junction of the tarsus and metatarsus, leaving almost unaffected the center of

the deformity.”

He says he uses a “wood worker’s vice” and a “nutcracker” which is an

instrument with two long levers, in which he can place the foot and exert

tremendous force on the foot when the “resistance is beyond the strength of the

hands.” He then applies his splint. “If, however, great violence has been used

it is probably best to put up the feet in plaster of Paris for a week or so.”

The feet are strapped with adhesive each to a metal foot piece and these

fastened to a bar which can be bent, and the foot plates can be turned outward

as desired on the bar. He says, “I have never seen it applied in my way by

anyone else. Do not be alarmed by a fair amount of swelling after the first

violent manipulations. I have never seen any trouble from it. Never cease the

splinting because of pressure sores or skin irritation. Both are rare, neither

is important.”

Mindy mljgjj@...> wrote:

hi My name is Mindy and I was joined to the club foot and they refered

me here does anyone have the article about the dennis brown bar that

was cruel to children.?

[Guest guest]

hey.. not that the bar is cruel.. the maker was... i think Kori might have that

article... she will probably respond soon... she's a wealth of information!!

mommy to Grace 12-03-03 BCF Dobb's Brace 16/7

Mindy mljgjj@...> wrote:

hi My name is Mindy and I was joined to the club foot and they refered

me here does anyone have the article about the dennis brown bar that

was cruel to children.?

[Guest guest]

mindy...

also.. grace was 14 months old when she went the first time to dr dobbs... and

she was in relapse and had to have the tenotomy done all over again.. but her

feet are wonderful now and she is loving being out of the braces longer.. she

gives me zero problems at night when it's time to put them back on... actually

tries to help!! so it's not too late at all...

mommy to Grace 12-03-03 BCF Dobb's Brace 16/7

Caroland lcaroland@...> wrote:

hey.. not that the bar is cruel.. the maker was... i think Kori might have that

article... she will probably respond soon... she's a wealth of information!!

mommy to Grace 12-03-03 BCF Dobb's Brace 16/7

love, lisa

before i made you in the womb, i knew you... love God.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I'm located in Casper wyoming if anyone know of a doc around here

please let me know

Mindy

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> me here does anyone have the article about the dennis brown bar

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[Guest guest]

Mindy,

There is a good doctor in Boise, Idaho. I know it is a bit from Casper. On

Ponseti's certified list there are two docors in Colorado, on in Greely and the

other ? The information follows. Maybe someone else knows of one in Colorado

or South Dakota that is closer to you? The doctor in Boise is the one we go to.

He is good and has done wonders with my Tenny's foot. Let me know if you want

more info on him. I can tell you when he likes to see club feet and where, and

stuff like that.

Good luck,

Colorado docs. on Ponseti's list

J. Hatch, DPM

Email Dr. Hatch

Weber, DPM

North Colorado Medical Center

1800 15th Street, Ste. 200

Greeley CO 80631

Phone

Email Dr. Weber

Website: bannerhealth.com

Idaho doc

Buzz Showalter, Jr., M.D.

Intermountain Orthopaedics

600 North Robbins Road, Ste. 401

Boise, ID 83702

Tel:

Fax:

Re: hi everyone I was told that maybe you guys

can help

I'm located in Casper wyoming if anyone know of a doc around here

please let me know

Mindy

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> hi My name is Mindy and I was joined to the club foot and they

refered

> me here does anyone have the article about the dennis brown bar

that

> was cruel to children.?

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