Re: What I learned at the symposium

[Guest guest]

Holly,

He actually was talking about someone who was there at the symposium

but referred to other cases that had been the same way. I'm sure your

is probably one of them.

> > >

> > > , was there discussion about the ATTT - problems, long term

> > results, etc? I swear the more I learn the more I think had

> > atypical (he ended with the ATTT that Dietz and Ponseti are not

> happy

> > with). When I hear the little girl is getting success at age 3 it

> > makes me wonder if they shouldn't have worked harder or longer on

> > before opting for the surgery. Guess I'll never know. I " m

> glad

> > your dh liked Dietz, personally I have a hard time communicating

> with him.

> > > s.

> > >

> > > What I learned at the symposium

> > >

> > >

> > > Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will

> probably

> > > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now

> to

> > > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> > >

> > > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> > > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

> with

> > > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked

> at

> > > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> > > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

> really

> > > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

> said, " Ah,

> > > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet,

> it

> > > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

> said,

> > > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

> ()

> > > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> > > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

> that

> > > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars.

> He

> > > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that

> Dr.

> > > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

> flexion

> > > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> > > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> > > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs

> and

> > > .

> > > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He

> was

> > > the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting.

> He

> > > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

> presenting

> > > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting

> was

> > > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

> thought " I

> > > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

> made.

> > > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are

> all

> > > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

> casts

> > > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

> which the

> > > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting

> to

> > > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees

> a

> > > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

> a few

> > > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> > > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

> over. He

> > > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is

> an

> > > interesting theory.

> > > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so

> that

> > > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one

> of

> > > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to

> get

> > > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the

> foot

> > > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

> > does.

> > > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of

> the

> > > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> > > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> > > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> > > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held

> for

> > > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

> their " crimp " in

> > > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

> Pretty

> > > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> > >

> > > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

> will try

> > > to write more tonight.

> > >

> > > Later,

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Holly,

He actually was talking about someone who was there at the symposium

but referred to other cases that had been the same way. I'm sure your

is probably one of them.

> > >

> > > , was there discussion about the ATTT - problems, long term

> > results, etc? I swear the more I learn the more I think had

> > atypical (he ended with the ATTT that Dietz and Ponseti are not

> happy

> > with). When I hear the little girl is getting success at age 3 it

> > makes me wonder if they shouldn't have worked harder or longer on

> > before opting for the surgery. Guess I'll never know. I " m

> glad

> > your dh liked Dietz, personally I have a hard time communicating

> with him.

> > > s.

> > >

> > > What I learned at the symposium

> > >

> > >

> > > Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will

> probably

> > > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now

> to

> > > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> > >

> > > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> > > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

> with

> > > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked

> at

> > > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> > > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

> really

> > > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

> said, " Ah,

> > > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet,

> it

> > > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

> said,

> > > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

> ()

> > > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> > > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

> that

> > > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars.

> He

> > > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that

> Dr.

> > > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

> flexion

> > > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> > > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> > > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs

> and

> > > .

> > > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He

> was

> > > the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting.

> He

> > > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

> presenting

> > > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting

> was

> > > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

> thought " I

> > > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

> made.

> > > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are

> all

> > > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

> casts

> > > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

> which the

> > > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting

> to

> > > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees

> a

> > > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

> a few

> > > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> > > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

> over. He

> > > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is

> an

> > > interesting theory.

> > > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so

> that

> > > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one

> of

> > > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to

> get

> > > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the

> foot

> > > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

> > does.

> > > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of

> the

> > > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> > > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> > > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> > > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held

> for

> > > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

> their " crimp " in

> > > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

> Pretty

> > > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> > >

> > > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

> will try

> > > to write more tonight.

> > >

> > > Later,

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

We didn't take her to Dr. P until she began relapsing about about 10 mos. Our

local ortho, trained by Dr. P, threatened to use AFO's during the day and our

s at night until he could do the ATTT at her follow up appt. so I ran

out to Iowa. LOL Dr. P agreed that she was relapsing, did a series of three

casts and then put another 3 weeker on her at about 14 mos. He agrees that

she's VERY atypical and when he saw pics of parts of her feet that he can see in

pictures we took (we weren't smart enough to take them of her feet then) he said

something akin to 'I don't think I've ever seen one balled quite like that'.

I'm sure he has but I guess she's one of just a few... I wish often that we had

taken pictures of them so he could see them up close. Her right foot was sort

of next to her leg with the skin stretched below the leg bones and over to the

foot next to it and the foot was facing up and cupped up so that her toes

touched her heel. Her left foot was more normally clubbed but it has deep

creases and is now the one we have more trouble with. He's following her now

but we still keep our local ortho in the loop. We figure it is just further

training. My son happened to break his arm when had one of her " Dr P

specials " with her feet turned completely backwards and he just marveled at them

and kept checking it out. I think he'd have taken xrays if he could have at

that moment.

Chris

Re: What I learned at the symposium

So was originally treated by Dr. P? And does he consider her

" atypical " ?

Where to start? I will try

not to

> > ramble on forever, I will probably

> > > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time

right now to

> > > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> > >

> > > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see

everything,

> > > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

> with

> > > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I

sucked at

> > > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I

don't

> > > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

> really

> > > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

> said, " Ah,

> > > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and

sweet, it

> > > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

> said,

> > > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

> ()

> > > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that

and Dr.

> > > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

> that

> > > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating

bars. He

> > > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models

that Dr.

> > > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

> flexion

> > > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the

middle). My

> > > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need

him to

> > > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr.

Dobbs and

> > > .

> > > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality.

> He was

> > > the instructor for our little group doing the practice

casting. He

> > > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

presenting

> > > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really

interesting was

> > > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

thought " I

> > > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

> made.

> > > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they

are all

> > > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

> casts

> > > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

> which the

> > > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is

starting to

> > > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he

sees a

> > > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

> a few

> > > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the

foot go

> > > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

> over. He

> > > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but

it is an

> > > interesting theory.

> > > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is

so that

> > > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is

one of

> > > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is

> to get

> > > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral

> the foot

> > > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal

foot

> > does.

> > > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the

tissues of the

> > > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a

post

> > > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments

(collagen

> > > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a

" crimp " , the

> > > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and

held for

> > > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain their

> " crimp " in

> > > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

> Pretty

> > > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> > >

> > > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

> will try

> > > to write more tonight.

> > >

> > > Later,

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

We didn't take her to Dr. P until she began relapsing about about 10 mos. Our

local ortho, trained by Dr. P, threatened to use AFO's during the day and our

s at night until he could do the ATTT at her follow up appt. so I ran

out to Iowa. LOL Dr. P agreed that she was relapsing, did a series of three

casts and then put another 3 weeker on her at about 14 mos. He agrees that

she's VERY atypical and when he saw pics of parts of her feet that he can see in

pictures we took (we weren't smart enough to take them of her feet then) he said

something akin to 'I don't think I've ever seen one balled quite like that'.

I'm sure he has but I guess she's one of just a few... I wish often that we had

taken pictures of them so he could see them up close. Her right foot was sort

of next to her leg with the skin stretched below the leg bones and over to the

foot next to it and the foot was facing up and cupped up so that her toes

touched her heel. Her left foot was more normally clubbed but it has deep

creases and is now the one we have more trouble with. He's following her now

but we still keep our local ortho in the loop. We figure it is just further

training. My son happened to break his arm when had one of her " Dr P

specials " with her feet turned completely backwards and he just marveled at them

and kept checking it out. I think he'd have taken xrays if he could have at

that moment.

Chris

Re: What I learned at the symposium

So was originally treated by Dr. P? And does he consider her

" atypical " ?

Where to start? I will try

not to

> > ramble on forever, I will probably

> > > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time

right now to

> > > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> > >

> > > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see

everything,

> > > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

> with

> > > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I

sucked at

> > > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I

don't

> > > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

> really

> > > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

> said, " Ah,

> > > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and

sweet, it

> > > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

> said,

> > > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

> ()

> > > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that

and Dr.

> > > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

> that

> > > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating

bars. He

> > > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models

that Dr.

> > > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

> flexion

> > > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the

middle). My

> > > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need

him to

> > > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr.

Dobbs and

> > > .

> > > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality.

> He was

> > > the instructor for our little group doing the practice

casting. He

> > > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

presenting

> > > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really

interesting was

> > > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

thought " I

> > > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

> made.

> > > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they

are all

> > > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

> casts

> > > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

> which the

> > > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is

starting to

> > > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he

sees a

> > > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

> a few

> > > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the

foot go

> > > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

> over. He

> > > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but

it is an

> > > interesting theory.

> > > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is

so that

> > > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is

one of

> > > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is

> to get

> > > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral

> the foot

> > > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal

foot

> > does.

> > > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the

tissues of the

> > > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a

post

> > > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments

(collagen

> > > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a

" crimp " , the

> > > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and

held for

> > > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain their

> " crimp " in

> > > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

> Pretty

> > > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> > >

> > > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

> will try

> > > to write more tonight.

> > >

> > > Later,

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I will be curious to see what he says too. I would think if she is

still not a full time " walker " it may be too early to determine if

those creases are going to go away. Sammy still has a bit of a

indent/crease above his heel and his heel has not dropped fully yet.

He's been " walking " for a couple months now. Dr. Dobbs still assures

me that this will all happen as he bears weight more and more.

Where to start? I will

try

> not to

> > > ramble on forever, I will probably

> > > > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time

> right now to

> > > > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> > > >

> > > > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see

> everything,

> > > > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber

baby feet

> > with

> > > > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a

cast! I

> sucked at

> > > > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the

cast, I

> don't

> > > > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do

it! I

> > really

> > > > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy

and

> > said, " Ah,

> > > > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle

and

> sweet, it

> > > > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's

brace and

> > said,

> > > > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my

orthotist

> > ()

> > > > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that

> and Dr.

> > > > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk.

also told me

> > that

> > > > he has already made a couple prototypes with

articulating

> bars. He

> > > > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other

models

> that Dr.

> > > > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent

plantar

> > flexion

> > > > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the

> middle). My

> > > > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just

need

> him to

> > > > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to

Dr.

> Dobbs and

> > > > .

> > > > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great

personality.

> > He was

> > > > the instructor for our little group doing the practice

> casting. He

> > > > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

> presenting

> > > > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical

results (as

> > > > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really

> interesting was

> > > > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school

of

> thought " I

> > > > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born,

they are

> > made.

> > > > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course,

they

> are all

> > > > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by

slipping

> > casts

> > > > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple

cases in

> > which the

> > > > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is

> starting to

> > > > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach -

if he

> sees a

> > > > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of

the cast

> > a few

> > > > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen

the

> foot go

> > > > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he

starts

> > over. He

> > > > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet,

but

> it is an

> > > > interesting theory.

> > > > Next, I was always told that the reason they over

correct is

> so that

> > > > the foot can gradually return to a normal position.

This is

> one of

> > > > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main

reason is

> > to get

> > > > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to

neutral

> > the foot

> > > > will never have good abduction range of motion like a

normal

> foot

> > > does.

> > > > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the

> tissues of the

> > > > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this

in a

> post

> > > > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments

> (collagen

> > > > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a

> " crimp " , the

> > > > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted

and

> held for

> > > > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

their

> > " crimp " in

> > > > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched

again.

> > Pretty

> > > > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health

book, but I

> > > > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> > > >

> > > > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for

now. I

> > will try

> > > > to write more tonight.

> > > >

> > > > Later,

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

I will be curious to see what he says too. I would think if she is

still not a full time " walker " it may be too early to determine if

those creases are going to go away. Sammy still has a bit of a

indent/crease above his heel and his heel has not dropped fully yet.

He's been " walking " for a couple months now. Dr. Dobbs still assures

me that this will all happen as he bears weight more and more.

Where to start? I will

try

> not to

> > > ramble on forever, I will probably

> > > > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time

> right now to

> > > > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> > > >

> > > > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see

> everything,

> > > > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber

baby feet

> > with

> > > > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a

cast! I

> sucked at

> > > > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the

cast, I

> don't

> > > > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do

it! I

> > really

> > > > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy

and

> > said, " Ah,

> > > > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle

and

> sweet, it

> > > > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's

brace and

> > said,

> > > > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my

orthotist

> > ()

> > > > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that

> and Dr.

> > > > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk.

also told me

> > that

> > > > he has already made a couple prototypes with

articulating

> bars. He

> > > > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other

models

> that Dr.

> > > > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent

plantar

> > flexion

> > > > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the

> middle). My

> > > > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just

need

> him to

> > > > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to

Dr.

> Dobbs and

> > > > .

> > > > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great

personality.

> > He was

> > > > the instructor for our little group doing the practice

> casting. He

> > > > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

> presenting

> > > > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical

results (as

> > > > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really

> interesting was

> > > > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school

of

> thought " I

> > > > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born,

they are

> > made.

> > > > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course,

they

> are all

> > > > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by

slipping

> > casts

> > > > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple

cases in

> > which the

> > > > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is

> starting to

> > > > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach -

if he

> sees a

> > > > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of

the cast

> > a few

> > > > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen

the

> foot go

> > > > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he

starts

> > over. He

> > > > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet,

but

> it is an

> > > > interesting theory.

> > > > Next, I was always told that the reason they over

correct is

> so that

> > > > the foot can gradually return to a normal position.

This is

> one of

> > > > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main

reason is

> > to get

> > > > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to

neutral

> > the foot

> > > > will never have good abduction range of motion like a

normal

> foot

> > > does.

> > > > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the

> tissues of the

> > > > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this

in a

> post

> > > > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments

> (collagen

> > > > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a

> " crimp " , the

> > > > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted

and

> held for

> > > > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

their

> > " crimp " in

> > > > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched

again.

> > Pretty

> > > > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health

book, but I

> > > > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> > > >

> > > > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for

now. I

> > will try

> > > > to write more tonight.

> > > >

> > > > Later,

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

You're welcome Holly, not sure if I was any help - sometimes there is no help to

give or have except knowing you're not alone out there.

I had never seen club foot on a human prior to 's birth - although I'd seen

a few farm animals born this way and they always seemed to out grow it fine with

no problem, certainly with no medical treatments! So I wasn't concerned about

his feet when he was born. All the dr's in our town assured me it was easily

corrected with some casting. However when he was 3 months old the dr. acted

like it was a real turn for the worse that he needed the heel cord lengthened

and treated it like major surgery and gloom & doom.

But looking back I think his feet were probably on the severe end of the scale;

very small compared to his body, twisted really bad, no heel. In fact he didn't

have a " heel " until Dr. Ponseti casted him as he approached his 2nd birthday. I

remember that cast coming off when I could see an actual heel, I was so

thrilled! It could just be a variety of factors you know - severe feet, poor

treatment, he was large for his age all through is first 2 years. He had a 2nd

heel cord release with Dr. Ponseti during the ATTT surgery but I don't know why

his heels remain so short and stiff - just luck of the draw is all I can

contribute it to. Dietz and Ponseti don't know why his big toes want to curve

in so bad either but think thats isolated and not caused by any other deformity.

They say otherwise his foot is straight. I should count my blessings he's not

sports-minded at all, he's a book worm type of kid although hyper active if that

makes any sense.

s.

What I learned at the symposium

> >

> >

> > Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will

> probably

> > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now

to

> > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> >

> > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

> with

> > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked

at

> > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

> really

> > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

> said, " Ah,

> > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet,

it

> > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

> said,

> > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

> ()

> > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

> that

> > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars.

He

> > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that

Dr.

> > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

> flexion

> > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs

and

> > .

> > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He

> was

> > the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting.

He

> > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

presenting

> > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting

was

> > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

thought " I

> > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

> made.

> > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are

all

> > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

> casts

> > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

which

> the

> > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting

to

> > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees

a

> > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

a

> few

> > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

over.

> He

> > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is

an

> > interesting theory.

> > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so

that

> > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one

of

> > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to

> get

> > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the

> foot

> > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

> does.

> > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of

the

> > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held

for

> > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

their " crimp "

> in

> > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

> Pretty

> > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> >

> > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

will

> try

> > to write more tonight.

> >

> > Later,

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

You're welcome Holly, not sure if I was any help - sometimes there is no help to

give or have except knowing you're not alone out there.

I had never seen club foot on a human prior to 's birth - although I'd seen

a few farm animals born this way and they always seemed to out grow it fine with

no problem, certainly with no medical treatments! So I wasn't concerned about

his feet when he was born. All the dr's in our town assured me it was easily

corrected with some casting. However when he was 3 months old the dr. acted

like it was a real turn for the worse that he needed the heel cord lengthened

and treated it like major surgery and gloom & doom.

But looking back I think his feet were probably on the severe end of the scale;

very small compared to his body, twisted really bad, no heel. In fact he didn't

have a " heel " until Dr. Ponseti casted him as he approached his 2nd birthday. I

remember that cast coming off when I could see an actual heel, I was so

thrilled! It could just be a variety of factors you know - severe feet, poor

treatment, he was large for his age all through is first 2 years. He had a 2nd

heel cord release with Dr. Ponseti during the ATTT surgery but I don't know why

his heels remain so short and stiff - just luck of the draw is all I can

contribute it to. Dietz and Ponseti don't know why his big toes want to curve

in so bad either but think thats isolated and not caused by any other deformity.

They say otherwise his foot is straight. I should count my blessings he's not

sports-minded at all, he's a book worm type of kid although hyper active if that

makes any sense.

s.

What I learned at the symposium

> >

> >

> > Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will

> probably

> > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now

to

> > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> >

> > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

> with

> > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked

at

> > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

> really

> > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

> said, " Ah,

> > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet,

it

> > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

> said,

> > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

> ()

> > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

> that

> > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars.

He

> > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that

Dr.

> > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

> flexion

> > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs

and

> > .

> > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He

> was

> > the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting.

He

> > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

presenting

> > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting

was

> > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

thought " I

> > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

> made.

> > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are

all

> > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

> casts

> > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

which

> the

> > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting

to

> > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees

a

> > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

a

> few

> > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

over.

> He

> > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is

an

> > interesting theory.

> > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so

that

> > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one

of

> > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to

> get

> > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the

> foot

> > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

> does.

> > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of

the

> > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held

for

> > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

their " crimp "

> in

> > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

> Pretty

> > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> >

> > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

will

> try

> > to write more tonight.

> >

> > Later,

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks . You are probably right - got the best they had to offer

at the time they had to offer it and I probably just have a hard time coming to

grips with the fact that it's too late to back up and start over with their new

information. .... That he's stuck like this. Its just hitting me harder

than it used to, maybe because i see Everett so perfect and so " damaged "

side by side every day and I feel sad for .

s.

What I learned at the symposium

>

>

> Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will probably

> have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now to

> tell you everything I saw and learned.

>

> First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet with

> bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked at

> keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I really

> enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and said, " Ah,

> so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet, it

> was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and said,

> " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist ()

> to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me that

> he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars. He

> did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that Dr.

> Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar flexion

> and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs and

> .

> I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He was

> the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting. He

> was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of presenting

> the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting was

> his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of thought " I

> guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are made.

> He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are all

> still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping casts

> and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in which the

> cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting to

> look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees a

> foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast a few

> weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts over. He

> obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is an

> interesting theory.

> Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so that

> the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one of

> the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to get

> the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the foot

> will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

does.

> Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of the

> ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held for

> 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain their " crimp " in

> their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again. Pretty

> interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

>

> Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I will try

> to write more tonight.

>

> Later,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks . You are probably right - got the best they had to offer

at the time they had to offer it and I probably just have a hard time coming to

grips with the fact that it's too late to back up and start over with their new

information. .... That he's stuck like this. Its just hitting me harder

than it used to, maybe because i see Everett so perfect and so " damaged "

side by side every day and I feel sad for .

s.

What I learned at the symposium

>

>

> Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will probably

> have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now to

> tell you everything I saw and learned.

>

> First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet with

> bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked at

> keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I really

> enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and said, " Ah,

> so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet, it

> was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and said,

> " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist ()

> to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me that

> he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars. He

> did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that Dr.

> Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar flexion

> and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs and

> .

> I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He was

> the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting. He

> was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of presenting

> the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting was

> his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of thought " I

> guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are made.

> He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are all

> still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping casts

> and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in which the

> cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting to

> look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees a

> foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast a few

> weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts over. He

> obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is an

> interesting theory.

> Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so that

> the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one of

> the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to get

> the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the foot

> will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

does.

> Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of the

> ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held for

> 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain their " crimp " in

> their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again. Pretty

> interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

>

> Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I will try

> to write more tonight.

>

> Later,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You better not ever let hear you say that! One thing I think

is important is how the kids perceive their own self-image through

their parents eyes. I know when I was a kid, my parents never looked

at my foot as being a handicap. I had a lot of fun from what I

remember, being in a cast at the ages of 5 and 7. Isn't that weird?

Probably because it got me extra attention. I remember thinking I

was pretty cool in kindergarten that all the other kids either rode

the bus or walked home. I could have walked, I lived practically

right behind the school, but I was " special " because my grandma got

to come and pick me up. Then in 2nd grade, I had a cast in the

winter and wasn't allowed to go outside at recess when it was too

cold (freeze my toes), so the other kids used to fight over who got

to stay inside with me (they didn't want to go out in the cold

either!). Anyway, what I'm trying to say, is that I think to a large

extent, we become what and who we are based on those early years.

How does feel about it? Does he have any issues with kids

teasing him? You are probably going to have to work extra hard so

that he doesn't feel badly about himself compared to Everett. So

buck up girl, lol, you've got those teenage years looming ahead of

you yet!

> >

> > , was there discussion about the ATTT - problems, long term

> results, etc? I swear the more I learn the more I think had

> atypical (he ended with the ATTT that Dietz and Ponseti are not

happy

> with). When I hear the little girl is getting success at age 3 it

> makes me wonder if they shouldn't have worked harder or longer on

> before opting for the surgery. Guess I'll never know. I " m

glad

> your dh liked Dietz, personally I have a hard time communicating

with him.

> > s.

> >

> > What I learned at the symposium

> >

> >

> > Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will

probably

> > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now

to

> > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> >

> > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

with

> > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked

at

> > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

really

> > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

said, " Ah,

> > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet,

it

> > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

said,

> > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

()

> > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

that

> > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars.

He

> > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that

Dr.

> > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

flexion

> > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs

and

> > .

> > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He

was

> > the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting.

He

> > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

presenting

> > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting

was

> > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

thought " I

> > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

made.

> > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are

all

> > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

casts

> > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

which the

> > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting

to

> > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees

a

> > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

a few

> > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

over. He

> > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is

an

> > interesting theory.

> > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so

that

> > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one

of

> > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to

get

> > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the

foot

> > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

> does.

> > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of

the

> > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held

for

> > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

their " crimp " in

> > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

Pretty

> > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> >

> > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

will try

> > to write more tonight.

> >

> > Later,

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

You better not ever let hear you say that! One thing I think

is important is how the kids perceive their own self-image through

their parents eyes. I know when I was a kid, my parents never looked

at my foot as being a handicap. I had a lot of fun from what I

remember, being in a cast at the ages of 5 and 7. Isn't that weird?

Probably because it got me extra attention. I remember thinking I

was pretty cool in kindergarten that all the other kids either rode

the bus or walked home. I could have walked, I lived practically

right behind the school, but I was " special " because my grandma got

to come and pick me up. Then in 2nd grade, I had a cast in the

winter and wasn't allowed to go outside at recess when it was too

cold (freeze my toes), so the other kids used to fight over who got

to stay inside with me (they didn't want to go out in the cold

either!). Anyway, what I'm trying to say, is that I think to a large

extent, we become what and who we are based on those early years.

How does feel about it? Does he have any issues with kids

teasing him? You are probably going to have to work extra hard so

that he doesn't feel badly about himself compared to Everett. So

buck up girl, lol, you've got those teenage years looming ahead of

you yet!

> >

> > , was there discussion about the ATTT - problems, long term

> results, etc? I swear the more I learn the more I think had

> atypical (he ended with the ATTT that Dietz and Ponseti are not

happy

> with). When I hear the little girl is getting success at age 3 it

> makes me wonder if they shouldn't have worked harder or longer on

> before opting for the surgery. Guess I'll never know. I " m

glad

> your dh liked Dietz, personally I have a hard time communicating

with him.

> > s.

> >

> > What I learned at the symposium

> >

> >

> > Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will

probably

> > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now

to

> > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> >

> > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

with

> > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked

at

> > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

really

> > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

said, " Ah,

> > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet,

it

> > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

said,

> > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

()

> > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

that

> > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars.

He

> > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that

Dr.

> > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

flexion

> > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs

and

> > .

> > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He

was

> > the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting.

He

> > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

presenting

> > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting

was

> > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

thought " I

> > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

made.

> > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are

all

> > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

casts

> > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

which the

> > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting

to

> > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees

a

> > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

a few

> > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

over. He

> > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is

an

> > interesting theory.

> > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so

that

> > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one

of

> > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to

get

> > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the

foot

> > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

> does.

> > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of

the

> > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held

for

> > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

their " crimp " in

> > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

Pretty

> > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> >

> > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

will try

> > to write more tonight.

> >

> > Later,

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks . Truthfully I try very hard to treat his feet as normal as I can

yet be as matter of factual with him as I can - they are what they are and God

didn't make junk so they're just perfectly OK. He has been teased a little,

not really teased so much as kids looking at him and talking about his feet look

funny in that honest way kids have. He's not the least bit bashful about them

in any event as I cannot keep shoes on his feet and must push him to wear them

even to enter a store where shoes are required. He's actually proud of what we

refer to as his Eagle Claw toes he can use almost like fingers! haha This is

just a mommy-guilt thing I'm dealing with I suppose. He understands he didn't

get the same quality treatment his brother got, but he also understands that 7

years ago the information just wasn't that widely available to people living in

a hick Arkansas town! And not that I'd say this to him, but hey, at least if

he got short changed in the feet he was blessed with good looks! He's definately

going to be the chic-magnet of the family! haha But I appreciate your kind

words and your story.

s.

What I learned at the symposium

> >

> >

> > Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will

probably

> > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now

to

> > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> >

> > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

with

> > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked

at

> > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

really

> > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

said, " Ah,

> > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet,

it

> > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

said,

> > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

()

> > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

that

> > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars.

He

> > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that

Dr.

> > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

flexion

> > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs

and

> > .

> > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He

was

> > the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting.

He

> > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

presenting

> > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting

was

> > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

thought " I

> > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

made.

> > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are

all

> > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

casts

> > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

which the

> > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting

to

> > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees

a

> > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

a few

> > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

over. He

> > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is

an

> > interesting theory.

> > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so

that

> > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one

of

> > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to

get

> > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the

foot

> > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

> does.

> > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of

the

> > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held

for

> > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

their " crimp " in

> > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

Pretty

> > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> >

> > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

will try

> > to write more tonight.

> >

> > Later,

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks . Truthfully I try very hard to treat his feet as normal as I can

yet be as matter of factual with him as I can - they are what they are and God

didn't make junk so they're just perfectly OK. He has been teased a little,

not really teased so much as kids looking at him and talking about his feet look

funny in that honest way kids have. He's not the least bit bashful about them

in any event as I cannot keep shoes on his feet and must push him to wear them

even to enter a store where shoes are required. He's actually proud of what we

refer to as his Eagle Claw toes he can use almost like fingers! haha This is

just a mommy-guilt thing I'm dealing with I suppose. He understands he didn't

get the same quality treatment his brother got, but he also understands that 7

years ago the information just wasn't that widely available to people living in

a hick Arkansas town! And not that I'd say this to him, but hey, at least if

he got short changed in the feet he was blessed with good looks! He's definately

going to be the chic-magnet of the family! haha But I appreciate your kind

words and your story.

s.

What I learned at the symposium

> >

> >

> > Where to start? I will try not to ramble on forever, I will

probably

> > have to do this in pieces as I don't have a lot of time right now

to

> > tell you everything I saw and learned.

> >

> > First of all, it was a great experience, I got to see everything,

> > casting, a tenotomy, I got to manipulate little rubber baby feet

with

> > bones inside them, I even got to practice doing a cast! I sucked

at

> > keeping my hands in the right places while doing the cast, I don't

> > know how the docs who mold and hold at the same time do it! I

really

> > enjoyed meeting Dr. Ponseti, he came up to me and Sammy and

said, " Ah,

> > so this is the baby from St. Louis. " He was so gentle and sweet,

it

> > was just fantastic meeting him. He looked at Sammy's brace and

said,

> > " Are you going to be here this afternoon? I want my orthotist

()

> > to see this. " I guess I'll start there. I know that and Dr.

> > Dobbs talked, said they had a long talk. also told me

that

> > he has already made a couple prototypes with articulating bars.

He

> > did look at Sammy's brace as well as a couple other models that

Dr.

> > Dobbs showed him, including some with stops to prevent plantar

flexion

> > and one with a quick release bar (snaps apart in the middle). My

> > husband has some really interesting ideas too, I just need him to

> > sketch out what he has thought up so I can give it to Dr. Dobbs

and

> > .

> > I really liked Fred Dietz, he has a really great personality. He

was

> > the instructor for our little group doing the practice casting.

He

> > was a very good speaker and I felt he did a great job of

presenting

> > the info on both short-term and long-term surgical results (as

> > compared to Ponseti). The thing that I found really interesting

was

> > his discussion on atypical feet. He is of the " school of

thought " I

> > guess you could say, that atypical feet are not born, they are

made.

> > He thinks (and this is still just conjecture of course, they are

all

> > still learning about atypical) that they are caused by slipping

casts

> > and/or improper manipulations. He has had a couple cases in

which the

> > cast has slipped once or twice and the emerging foot is starting

to

> > look atypical. He has tried a " let it lie " approach - if he sees

a

> > foot starting to look like this, he lets it stay out of the cast

a few

> > weeks and start relapsing. In these cases he has seen the foot go

> > back to looking like a " normal " clubfoot and then he starts

over. He

> > obviously doesn't have enough data to back this up yet, but it is

an

> > interesting theory.

> > Next, I was always told that the reason they over correct is so

that

> > the foot can gradually return to a normal position. This is one

of

> > the reasons, however, not the main reason - the main reason is to

get

> > the full range of motion, i.e. if you only correct to neutral the

foot

> > will never have good abduction range of motion like a normal foot

> does.

> > Another interesting thing I found out about is in the tissues of

the

> > ligaments themselves. Angel talked a little about this in a post

> > recently on the CF board. The tissues in the ligaments (collagen

> > fibers) in a clubfoot are actually contracted with a " crimp " , the

> > gentle stretching pulls out the crimp, then when casted and held

for

> > 5-7 days, the newly stretched tissues quickly regain

their " crimp " in

> > their new position, thus allowing them to be stretched again.

Pretty

> > interesting, huh? (This is all in the Global-Health book, but I

> > hadn't really followed this part of things before.)

> >

> > Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I have to go for now. I

will try

> > to write more tonight.

> >

> > Later,

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >