I Need Advice - kinda long sorry

November 18, 2005

Here's some background.

Austin has bilateral clubfoot. It was definitely detectable on our

ultrasound but we were not told about it. I just watched the video

the other night and saw it. So, he was casted at 2 weeks of age. He

couldn't be casted before then b/c of other medical issues

(premature). His ped. ortho. sug. at Riley(now at St. s in

Indiana) is Dr. Didelot. I have been 100% happy with him up until

this point. He had 9 weeks of casting and then received the DBB.

Austin is a little Houdini(doc. words) and we couldn't keep a good

hold in the DBB so he ordered an AFO brace. Now, here's where the fun

begins. In all of the research I've done over the past few days and

the information you wonderful ladies have given me, I've learned that

1. Dr. Didelot is a great doctor and 2. The AFO brace is worthless

b/c it doesn't hold the correction. So, Thursday 11/10 we saw Didelot

and that's when he ordered the AFO. We couldn't get the AFO until

Monday 11/14. He didn't wear the DBB during this time b/c Didelot

said not to put him through it. Flash forward to today. Tuesday night

we noticed regression and it has continued since then. His feet are

almost half way back to the day he was born. I called Didelot's

office yesterday and his nurse calls me today to tell me that he

doesn't want to see Austin until his next schuduled appt.(5 more wks)

and to continue with the AFO. Also that if he needs surgery, he won't

do it until Austin is 10 months of age. Um, wtf? I'm confused here.

Let's let this little 4 month old regress even more over 5 more

weeks?!

Here's where I need advice.

I need to call my insurance to see what kinda coverage we have as far

as out of state. I would like to go to Cincinnati if coverage allows,

but if not, Shriners in St. Louis(I think that's where it is.) Is one

place better than the other? What do you suggest. I hate to say it,

but I think Dr. Didelot just lost a patient.

Thank You!

Tia

Mom to & Austin

November 18, 2005

Sorry about your POOR doctor. Makes no sense at all to make you wait 5 weeks for

a checkup when you can clearly see that he is already losing correction. I am

not a " veteran " of the Ponseti method but it seems like that 9 castings is too

many for the Ponseti method. I think the maximum is like 5 or 6.

I think you will be doing the correct thing by going to Shriners or wherever

to find a Ponseti certified doctor that doesn't deviate from the protocol. Good

Luck.

Reid - Austin 23/7 DBB (8-1-05)

Tia on wrote: