Re: Re: Tendon Transfer at Age 3

January 9, 2006

Hi nna,

Our daughter Emma had the ATTT done when she was 4 by Dr. Morcuende in Iowa.

The procedure is relatively minor but requires 6 weeks of post operative

toe-to-groin casts bent 90° at the knees. You can feel the anterior tibialis

tendon by pulling up with your foot and feeling around the top, inner part.

That tendon is shifted over to the top outer part of the foot. A small hole

is drilled in the third cuneiform (a bone situated just above where the 3rd

and 4th metatarsals begin) where the tendon will be transferred to. There is

no bleeding since they use tourniquets to stop blood flow to the area.

You're probably wondering about pain after the surgery--from what I've read

some children have it worse than others. Emma had a tough time because the

pain meds they gave during surgery never took and she woke up in pain. This

is apparently very rare and I haven't heard of anyone else going through it.

It seems that half the kids are able to leave the same day while others

spend the night. In general, the first 24hrs - 36hrs are the worst. Even

through the worst of it Emma still managed to eat well and have a few laughs

watching a movie.

Feel free to write with more questions or for clarification. My son keeps

climbing on me wanting to play so I may not be making as much sense as I

think I'm making.

Dan

Re: Tendon Transfer at Age 3

Hi, I am new to the site! My daughter Macie was born with bi-lateral

clubfoot and quite severe. Her left foot it more severe, however

both feet have deep creases. Long and short is that she is now 20

months old and her left foot is starting to relapse. We saw Dr.

Ponseti on Wednesday and he said that most likely Macie will need to

have a tendon transfer around 2 1/2 years of age. We weren't

prepared for this news as we are very strict with the brace and do

all we can to prevent relapse. We are now having her wear her brace

during naps as well in effort to stop or correct the new problem.

With your experience I am curious to know anything and everything

about the tendon transfer procedure and recovery. I have looked

online and not had much luck finding non-technical information or for

that matter any information on the tendon transfer. I read that you

have posted several times about this and I am still trying to learn

how to navigate this site so I apologize:-) Any information or links

that you can provide will much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

nna Cullen

>

> Hi!

>

> My son, Jake, was born with a left clubfoot. He relapsed around

the age of 2 yrs and has had tendon transfer surgery done twice, at

age 3 and age 4 1/2. I've posted about this many times on both the

nosurgery4clubfoot and clubfoot boards so if you look back thru my

posts you should be able to find a lot of information. Let me know

if you have trouble looking up old posts and I can forward you some

information, or just email me with any specific questions you might

have.

>

> Kassia

> 3/22/01 (Lt clubfoot, ATTT surgery #2 October 2005)

> and 11/22/02

>

January 16, 2006

nna,

We are in almost the same situation. We have been and still are diligent in

putting on Christian's shoes every single night yet his doctor believes that

when we see him in March we will be scheduling his tendon transfer.

Christian will be 2 years old on the 30th of this month. I find myself

constantly trying to find more information about this procedure. I hope you

get all the answers your are looking for.

_____

From: nosurgery4clubfoot

[mailto:nosurgery4clubfoot ] On Behalf Of cullenx4

Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 1:58 PM

To: nosurgery4clubfoot

Subject: Re: Tendon Transfer at Age 3