question re: length of time shoes (w/dbb) need to be worn

[Guest guest]

From what I read and my own experience, it seems Dr. P recommends a bare minimum

of three years but the new " norm " is more like four years. Children coming out

of it at 2 are seeing a lot of regression leading to further corrective

measures, such as more casting, back in to the FAB and in extreme cases,

surgical correction.

My son is right now 26 months old and wearing the FAB 12 to 14 hours per night.

He was treated by Dr. Ponseti. Dr. P said at our last appt. maybe he could quit

at age 3 but frankly, i'd rather err on the side of caution and conintue to age

4.

The FAB doesnt interfer with our daily lives in any way, so I'm not in any kind

of hurry to get rid of it when the risks of shedding it too soon are so scary.

s.

question re: length of time shoes (w/dbb) need

to be worn

Hi, everyone. My son, Tommy was born with a unilateral (right) club

foot on Nov. 28, 2003. Since that time, he has been treated with the

Ponseti method under the care of Dr. Godfried (Schneider's

Children's hospital, Long Island, NY.)

My question is this: Tommy's progress has been excellent. His foot

is now in correct position. At his last check-up Dr. Godfried and I

discussed when he can stop sleeping in the shoes. Dr. Godfried is

comfortable with his patients stopping the shoes after 2 years.

(Tommy has been in the shoes since Jan, 2003, so we're coming up on

2 years.)He did suggest that before we take them off for good, I

contact this group to see what most ponseti drs. are recommending

these days regarding the length of time children continue to sleep

in the shoes at night. Is two years about the average? Or do some of

you have your children continue to sleep in the shoes past that

point (and if so, is there a particular reason why)

Thanks very much for your input and feedback. I look forward to

hearing from you all.

Kate and Tommy

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

I emailed Dr Ponseti about this a while ago and he

told me the DBB should be worn until at least 3 years

of age, and preferably until 4 or even 5 years if the

child still tolerates them well. He said he used to

say 2 or 3 years but that he found there were still

quite a number of relapses at that age and that's why

he increased it.

My son turned 3 in September and is still wearing them

at night only without any problems, and I intend to

have him wear them until at least 4 even though his

foot looks and feels perfect and has been ever since

it was fixed when he was a baby.

with (3y)

and Alister (3y, RCF, Ponseti method, UK)

--- kmoore608 wrote:

> Hi, everyone. My son, Tommy was born with a

> unilateral (right) club

> foot on Nov. 28, 2003. Since that time, he has been

> treated with the

> Ponseti method under the care of Dr. Godfried

> (Schneider's

> Children's hospital, Long Island, NY.)

>

> My question is this: Tommy's progress has been

> excellent. His foot

> is now in correct position. At his last check-up Dr.

> Godfried and I

> discussed when he can stop sleeping in the shoes.

> Dr. Godfried is

> comfortable with his patients stopping the shoes

> after 2 years.

> (Tommy has been in the shoes since Jan, 2003, so

> we're coming up on

> 2 years.)He did suggest that before we take them off

> for good, I

> contact this group to see what most ponseti drs. are

> recommending

> these days regarding the length of time children

> continue to sleep

> in the shoes at night. Is two years about the

> average? Or do some of

> you have your children continue to sleep in the

> shoes past that

> point (and if so, is there a particular reason why)

>

> Thanks very much for your input and feedback. I look

> forward to

> hearing from you all.

>

> Kate and Tommy

>

>

___________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

From my understanding it used to be the recommendation

to wear the brace 2-4 years. In our experience, Dr.

Ponseti said we could take Alaya out of the brace at 3

1/2. That was in February. We just went back for a

recheck and Dr. P is concerned that Alaya is

regressing. He said that he has seen kids regressing

up to age 5 1/2. There is no way to tell which ones

will regress and which ones will not. The

recommendation is beginning to be to keep them in the

brace until 4 or 5.

I know I would have much rather have left Alaya in the

brace while she was used to it, than to have a

regression and have to deal with another cast and

getting her used to the brace again. Especially after

she has been without the brace for so long. She never

had a problem with it before. I can't imagine a 4 yr

old (40 or more pounds) in a cast.

He said that the changes of regression after age 6 is

almost nonexistant. At 6 the foot is about half the

size it is going to be as an adult and the bones are

calcified enough to prevent regression.

I know at this point it seems like 5 is a long time

away, but it will go fast. I would leave it on as

long as he would tolerate it, but definately until 4.

HTH,

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Just fyi.. for those who might be interested,

I posted a pic of my daughter's corrected cf, at age 5 1/2.. in Photos

here in a folder named " Corrected "

http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/vwp?.dir=/Correc

ted+at+5 & .src=gr & .dnm=cf5.jpg & .view=t & .done=http%

3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/lst%3f%

26.dir=/Corrected%2bat%2b5%26.src=gr%26.view=t

she has worn the brace all this while, with no problems..

and Claire

left cf, treated by Dr. P, from 3 months old on