Heel surgery

[Guest guest]

Have any of your children had to have surgery other than the tendon

released - such as a joint release?

[Guest guest]

Hi! Welcome to the board!

I can't tell you how many, if any, of the families here have gone

through a joint release (under the care of non-Ponseti doctors), but

I can vouch for the fact that many of us were told that our child

needed an extensive release but after we switched to a different

doctor, it definitely wasn't necessary. One recent example of this

was in January- our friend, , was told that her 10 month old

daughter, , needed surgery. You can read her post about this

if you type 42109 in the message # box on this site.

emailed Dr. Ponseti who told her that the capsulotomy is

*never* needed if the doctor is using proper treatment techniques.

She ended up taking to Iowa to Dr. Ponseti and she definitely

has beautiful corrected feet now, without reconstructive surgery,

only a percutaneous tenotomy on one of her clubfeet.

My daughter was supposed to have the PMR procedure under the care of

our 2nd doctor......I took her to Dr. Ponseti at 4 months old and he

fixed her foot with just casting and the percutaneous tenotomy.

In the hands of an experienced Ponseti doctor, these major surgeries

aren't required. Some children do require the ATTT tendon transfer

at an older age to combat regression, but this would happen when

they're over 2 typically.

We'd be happy to answer any questions or give you referrals for

other doctors near you for second opinions if you'd like!

How old is your child and what has his/her treatment consisted of

thus far?

Regards,

& (3-16-00, left clubfoot)

http://ponseticlubfoot.freeservers.com

>

> Have any of your children had to have surgery other than the

tendon

> released - such as a joint release?

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter's ortho suggested that...She claimed that Dr. Ponseti taught it

to her...Big lie...My brother in law is an ortho tech, and says that in his

clinic, they are now treating teens and adults that had this surgery years

ago. They are in so much pain. We now travel more than 1000 miles from FL to

see Dr. Ponseti. Are they calling it posterior ankle and joint capsulotomy?

Is there any way to get to another doc for a second (or third or fourth)

opinion? Please, please, please...run...don't walk away from this doctor!

Where are you? What doctor is your child seeing now? Maybe we can help you

find another doctor near you...

( 2/1/05 bcf: P/M 22/7)

>

>Reply-To: nosurgery4clubfoot

>To: nosurgery4clubfoot

>Subject: Heel surgery

>Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:40:54 -0000

>

>Have any of your children had to have surgery other than the tendon

>released - such as a joint release?

>

>

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[Guest guest]

I'm really not sure about Christian docs in GA. However, there are a

couple Ponseti-trained docs that pratice out of Children Healthcare

of Atlanta. One is DR y and other is DR Schrader. Here is

their info:

sy, M.D.

5455 Meridian Mark Road #440

Atlanta, GA 30342-4723

Tel:

rtmorrissy@...

Tim Schrader, M.D.

5455 Meridian Mark Road #440

Atlanta, GA 30342-4723

tschrad@...

I suppose you could email or call to find out if they are Christian

doctors. However, if your child has a " typical " presentation of

clubfoot, these doctors could, I'm sure, correct your child's foot

without extensive surgery (although it sounds as if she may need a

tenotomy, which is truly no big deal). They do use one modification

in the Ponseti Method. They use soft fiberglass casts. If your

childs foot is, as I said, typical, this should not matter much. I

have posted some negative comments concerning y's treatment of

my son, but he has complex clubfoot and I believe y was a bit

out of familiar territory with his case. I would like to point out

that I doubt God would begrudge you using a Non-Christian doctor to

correct your child's foot. Especially if the difference is non-

surgically corrected feet with minimal discomfort versus surgically

corrected feet and a life time of pain. I certainly do not mock your

convictions , but I can think of no reason God would disapprove...

Please contact me if you have further questions reguarding the

physicians at CHOA, I'd be happy to go into further detail upon

request, however things are hectic around my house these days and I

have little time to email. My number is .(We currently

live in Utah, but I am from Albany.)

Faith

PS WE did eventually go to see Ponseti himself. WE have never

regretted it! In fact, it ws the best decision I have made to date

in regards to my son's healthcare. Good luck with your search.

>

> I am in Savannah, Georgia. I am considering a second opinion

now. I have been told of a good Christian doctor in Atlanta - Dr.

DeVito. I also have friends in Columbia, SC looking around for me.

I really like my doctor and from everything I have read, we have

done the " proper steps " and her heel is just staying " pulled up " .

>

> I have had no doubts thus far, but before " opening her foot up " I

would like to know if there are other options. I am not above

flying out to Dr. Ponseti if nothing else. I have about 2 weeks

before we are to " schedule " surgery (joint capsulotomy) . . . I have

read, though, that problems from this surgery occur after

adolescence. . .that is why I began to consider a second

opinion . . .

>

> I am unsure how the online chats work, am I emailing you

personally or the chat board? I would like to find out more

information about the steps you have taken. I talked to another

local family today who go to an out of town doctor who had to do

surgery (their child is now 3), too. . . I am just very confused and

want what is best for my child! Thanks so much!

> Heel surgery

> >Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:40:54 -0000

> >

> >Have any of your children had to have surgery other than the

tendon

> >released - such as a joint release?

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[Guest guest]

Oh, right, I forgot DR Busch. They are all at CHOA. They are are

capable of correcting typical clubfoot. In lue of going to Iowa, I

suggest you start there.

> >

> > I am in Savannah, Georgia. I am considering a second opinion

now.

> I have been told of a good Christian doctor in Atlanta - Dr.

DeVito.

> I also have friends in Columbia, SC looking around for me. I

really

> like my doctor and from everything I have read, we have done the

> " proper steps " and her heel is just staying " pulled up " .

> >

> > I have had no doubts thus far, but before " opening her foot up " I

> would like to know if there are other options. I am not above

flying

> out to Dr. Ponseti if nothing else. I have about 2 weeks before we

> are to " schedule " surgery (joint capsulotomy) . . . I have read,

> though, that problems from this surgery occur after adolescence. .

> .that is why I began to consider a second opinion . . .

> >

> > I am unsure how the online chats work, am I emailing you

personally

> or the chat board? I would like to find out more information about

> the steps you have taken. I talked to another local family today

who

> go to an out of town doctor who had to do surgery (their child is

now

> 3), too. . . I am just very confused and want what is best for my

> child! Thanks so much!

> > Heel surgery

> > >Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:40:54 -0000

> > >

> > >Have any of your children had to have surgery other than the

tendon

> > >released - such as a joint release?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

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[Guest guest]

I must put in a disclaimer...or rather a request. If your child has

typical clubfoot, the only " surgical procedure they (the CHOA guys)

should even mention is a percutatious tentotomy. If you do see any

of these DRs and they mention performing an " open tenotomy " , please

post immediately or call DR Ponseti to confirm it is needed. This

would be a tenotomy in which they used a open incision and , for

lack of better words... they tweak some of the tendons around the

ankle area while they are in there. If they are doing everything

properly, this should be completely unnecessary. y wanted to

do this to my son. Ponseti found when we went to Iowa that even a

percutanious tenotomy was unnecessary. If you have doubts, ask for x-

rays top be performed. I know this sounds like mixed info, but

really they are good doctors...certainly better than the

alternatives. Again, please don't hestitate to contact

me...especially if I've left you confused.

> >

> > I am in Savannah, Georgia. I am considering a second opinion

> now. I have been told of a good Christian doctor in Atlanta - Dr.

> DeVito. I also have friends in Columbia, SC looking around for

me.

> I really like my doctor and from everything I have read, we have

> done the " proper steps " and her heel is just staying " pulled up " .

> >

> > I have had no doubts thus far, but before " opening her foot up "

I

> would like to know if there are other options. I am not above

> flying out to Dr. Ponseti if nothing else. I have about 2 weeks

> before we are to " schedule " surgery (joint capsulotomy) . . . I

have

> read, though, that problems from this surgery occur after

> adolescence. . .that is why I began to consider a second

> opinion . . .

> >

> > I am unsure how the online chats work, am I emailing you

> personally or the chat board? I would like to find out more

> information about the steps you have taken. I talked to another

> local family today who go to an out of town doctor who had to do

> surgery (their child is now 3), too. . . I am just very confused

and

> want what is best for my child! Thanks so much!

> > Heel surgery

> > >Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:40:54 -0000

> > >

> > >Have any of your children had to have surgery other than the

> tendon

> > >released - such as a joint release?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

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> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Terri,

Right now, you are corresponding with me via the discussion board.

There is great insight to be gained there, so don't worry about

that. I'm sure that lots of other parents have actually gone through

the surgery that your doctor and my daughter's suggested.

There is another mom on the board named Faith. I know that she took

her son, Gabe to a doctor in Atlanta, but I don't remember his name.

Eventually, Faith took Gabe to see Dr. Ponseti as well. The red

flags that went up when the doctor suggested this surgery are great.

There's nothing like a mother's instincts!

Since you have two weeks before the surgery (That was how long we

had too...I wonder if all of these docs conspire together? j/k), why

not take this opportunity to seek out a second opinion from a

certified Ponseti doctor? You have nothing to lose by doing that. IF

however, in the end, you discover that your daughter had this joint

capsulotomy surgery that wasn't necessary, you can't take it back. I

still feel guilty everyday that I even considered letting the doctor

butcher her like that...

This is what I did: As soon as I found myself where you are right

now (questioning this same surgery), I came home and emailed Dr.

Ponseti (I will paste his emails below so you can see...)He is so

wonderful, and emailed me back within days. He told me that my

daughter did not (nor did any baby) need this joint capsulotomy.

When I told my daughter's doctor about this, she huffed and puffed,

and claimed that Dr. Ponseti " obviously doesn't understand the

severity of her case. " Um, okay... This unselfish, genious of a

doctor that has pioneered the most effective and non-invasive way

to treat clubfeet has no idea what he is talking about. Riiiight...

Anyway, that was all of the push that I needed. I called Dr. Ponseti

(at his request), got an appointment with him the next week (Yes,

the next week!), I packed my daughter in the car, and drove three

days from ville to Iowa City. It was the best decision that

my husband and I ever made. As you can see from the dates of the

emails to Dr. Ponseti that this was very recent. Her feet are so

perfect and beautiful now, and all without that surgery! He casted

her twice while we were there (stayed at the Mc House

for $15.00/night) and then did the percutaneous tenetomy on her left

foot. This was done in the office under local anesthesia. She was

never put under. The whole procedure lasted less that 2 minutes, and

it was done with a heavy- gauge needle looking scalpel.

Anyway, Terri...Like I said, take a look at my string of emails

below with Dr. Ponseti. It specifically addresses the surgery that

your daughter is set to have! Email me directly if you'd like, if

you have any more questions. I'd be glad to help!

Let me know what you decide to do!

( 2/1/05 bcf)

>

>To: " J "

>Subject: RE: From Dr. Ponseti

>Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 15:07:33 -0600

>

>December 26, 2005

>

>The pictures show the feet are not fully corrected. has a

deep crease on the medial side of the foot and the feet are held in

plantar flexion. She has what we call atypical clubfeet. SHE

DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT HAVE SURGERY SINCE IT WILL ONLY MAKE MATTERS

WORSE. These feet tend to form scar tissue which makes them very

difficult to treat. The only surgery that should be done for

atypical clubfeet is a percutaneous tendon Achilles tenotomy under

local anesthesia when the foot is in proper alignment. is

not ready for the tenotomy. I do not know if Dr. Grogan has ever

treated atypical clubfeet or if he is familiar with the

brace mentioned in my previous e-mail.

>

>I strongly recommend you bring here if possible. The

nearest airport is at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is 25 miles from

Iowa City. There is a shuttle van which will bring you to Iowa

City. Most of our families stay at the Mc House. See

the web site www.uihealthcare.com/ronaldmcdonaldhouse

>

>If you would like to speak with me by phone, the best times to

reach me are after 2:30 p.m. on Mondays (except Dec. 26 and Jan. 2),

Wednesdays, and Fridays at 319 356-2488.

>

>I.V. Ponseti, M.D.

>

> Dr in area?

>

>

>Dr. Ponseti,

>

>My daughter is 10 months old, and was in casts until 8 months. For

her first 6 months, we were in Naples, Italy, and getting (very

poor) treatment at a Naval Hospital there. Her casts only went as

high as her knee, and we didn't know any better to know that this

was wrong. When we arrived back in the States, we began seeing Dr.

M. Mazur at Nemours Children's Clinic in ville, FL. He

told us about your technique, and began getting thigh-high

casts for the next 8 weeks. The results were dramatic. Upon the

completion of her Ponseti method casts, she began using the Markell

shoes with the Denis Browne Bar. After two months, she is still

screaming all night long. She just has not adjusted to sleeping with

the shoes/bar. During the day, she is fine, and happy. It is only at

night that she is uncomfortable. We tried a test, and took the shoes

and bar off of her one night, and she slept soundly for the rest of

the night. I have asked Dr. Mazur for advice, but his response is

always, " All moms complain of this. " As of Monday, Dec. 19, we will

be seeing a new orthopaedic doctor at the same hospital, Dr. Leah

Pike. My question(s) to you is this: Do all babies take this long

adjusting and sleeping comfortably with the shoes and bar, or is

this a sign that something else is wrong, like perhaps her feet were

not ready for the shoes? Is there a doctor that you know of that is

certified with the Ponseti method in ville, FL? Dr. Mazur is

great, but suggested once that we leave the shoes off while pressure

sores healed instead of giving her a healing cast. This does not

seem like part of your method.

>Thank you for your time. Any advice or information that you can

give me would be greatly appreciated.

>Sincerely,

>

>

>

>

> I am in Savannah, Georgia. I am considering a second opinion

now. I have been told of a good Christian doctor in Atlanta - Dr.

DeVito. I also have friends in Columbia, SC looking around for me.

I really like my doctor and from everything I have read, we have

done the " proper steps " and her heel is just staying " pulled up " .

>

> I have had no doubts thus far, but before " opening her foot up " I

would like to know if there are other options. I am not above

flying out to Dr. Ponseti if nothing else. I have about 2 weeks

before we are to " schedule " surgery (joint capsulotomy) . . . I have

read, though, that problems from this surgery occur after

adolescence. . .that is why I began to consider a second

opinion . . .

>

> I am unsure how the online chats work, am I emailing you

personally or the chat board? I would like to find out more

information about the steps you have taken. I talked to another

local family today who go to an out of town doctor who had to do

surgery (their child is now 3), too. . . I am just very confused and

want what is best for my child! Thanks so much!

> Heel surgery

> >Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:40:54 -0000

> >

> >Have any of your children had to have surgery other than the

tendon

> >released - such as a joint release?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I took my daughter, Addison, to Dr. sy and had no issues with him

whatsoever. Her feet look great, and were corrected with only 5 casts and a

tenotomy. She's 20 months old, and although we have moved to Seattle (and are

seeing another good doctor, Dr. Mosca), I would highly recommend Dr. sy.

I believe all of the doctors that practice Ponseti there would be a good choice.

Heel surgery

> > >Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:40:54 -0000

> > >

> > >Have any of your children had to have surgery other than the

tendon

> > >released - such as a joint release?

> > >

> > >

> > >

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