Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 My Grandson has club foot. I just need some more in site. He is only 4 weeks old. Just had his third cast put on today. I know we are in for a long haul. The doctor's are pleased there is a noticeable difference already. His right foot just looks like he is pigeon toed. The left foot is stil turned inwards. However, there is already a noticeable difference. They did say however, he with need to have the little cut or incision at both his heals. Just want to know how long does it realyy take for everything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Hello and welcome to our group! To say it's a Long Haul...well, I don't totally agree with that. The initial casting / correction phase isn't that long, typically achieved in as little as 3 weeks or in severe cases as many as 9 weeks. Nine is pretty rare. The average is about 5 casts, around 5 weeks of casting. Some of this depends on the doctor's schedule, some change casts every 5 days and some change them every 7 days (in the Ponseti Method). Non-Ponseti doctors have been known to keep a cast on for two weeks between changes, or to let the child go with out casts for days between cast changes, etc., all of which prolong and complicate the correction process. The " Long Haul " is wearing the FAB brace afterwards, but even that is a fairly simple process most of the time and nothing to really fear. Used correctly, and on properly corrected feet, it becomes a non-issue pretty quick. You don't mention which doctor you see or if he/she uses the Ponseti Method or not. I don't want to spend a lot of time repeating what you might already know about the Ponseti Method - but I will say if you are not using it, I'd be very leery of what this dr. is doing to the child's feet as improper treatment can do more harm than good in the long run. The little cut you refer to is known as the Tenotomy. It should be the last thing the dr. does, with the child wearing a healing cast for 3 weeks afterwards before moving directly in to the brace. It is quite common even in the Ponseti Method, and quite minor. Most Ponseti doctors do this procedure in the office, and many doctors allow the parent to remain in the room. However, there are other doctors who turn this in to a major surgery and do more than just nick the tendon, again creating major problems down the road, so be cautious with it. If you'll tell us a little more about your situation we can probably help you through it a little better, OK? Best of luck, shawnee My Grandson's Club Foot My Grandson has club foot. I just need some more in site. He is only 4 weeks old. Just had his third cast put on today. I know we are in for a long haul. The doctor's are pleased there is a noticeable difference already. His right foot just looks like he is pigeon toed. The left foot is stil turned inwards. However, there is already a noticeable difference. They did say however, he with need to have the little cut or incision at both his heals. Just want to know how long does it realyy take for everything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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