Re: Re: We're approaching 3yo...

[Guest guest]

Our phyios is saying about 3 and Connor will be 3 in April and he actually

doesn/t like the FAB much and takes it off as soon as he wakes up no matter

what I do!!! So it is a bit scarey. I feel that I haven't done this for 3

years to have to go through it all again!!

Rach Steve & Connor

-- Re: Re: We're approaching 3yo...

I'm still concerned my dh seems set on 3 years. the other day I said, " By

this time next year he'll be able to put that on himself! " haha cuz he was

trying to put it on at the time...and husband says, " This time next year he

won't even need it. "

we keep going around about it because Ponseti said at our last appt.

Probably three years " . but everyone else I hear on here is saying four now.

His feet are soooo good I hate to risk any loss.

s.

Re: We're approaching 3yo...

Kori,

Dr. Morcuende told me about the time of the 2004 symposium that after

seeing a number of relapses in older kids (ages 4 to 6), they were

urging parents to have kids wear the brace to age 4, if tolerated,

and sometimes even longer.

Of course the risk goes down with each year that goes by, and each

case is different; some feet are milder, some are too loose and need

be released earlier.. but I think the idea is that if the child is

doing OK wearing the brace, then it is extra insurance to continue.

I'm sure you've seen the following from Dr. Morcuende,

" The rate of relapse decreases with age until about 5-6 years of age.

Overall, the odds of relapse if no bracing is used whatsoever is

something like: <12 months = 80-90 %; <2 years: 60-70%; 3-4 years:

20%, 4-6 years; 1%. However, it is not possible to know in which

group a particular patient is in, so you have to treat everyone

cautiously. "

He also did a paper on how hyperabduction in the last cast combined

with brace wear were the keys to preventing relapse.

Here is what Dr. Ponseti wrote to me in August '05:

" in the past two years or so we have had a few late relapses. We

cannot predict beforehand who is going to relapse. Owing to our

interest in avoiding relapses, we are encouraging parents to continue

the bracing longer, especially if the child tolerates it well. Feet

that were very severe at birth and difficult to correct seem to be

the most vulnerable to relapse. Unfortunately we do not know the

pathology that causes this nor do we know why relapses occur in some

children after 5 years of age. "

So, I can understand your skittishness about stopping.. I felt the

same way, at the age 3 and 3 1/2 checkpoints. If Darbi is doing well

with the brace, and you are too, I would keep on a while. It might

not be necessary, but that's the way of insurance ..

Also, I never figured we were 'safe' just because Claire's foot

looked great and functioned so well. I figured it was the brace that

was keeping it that way..

Hope this helps,

and Claire