Guest guest Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 there are very few docs that can mold fiberglass well enough to be able to claim full success with the Ponseti Method. The only names off hand I can come up with that I'd really trust to do this would be Pirani (vancouver, BC) and Mosca (seattle,WA) because both have proven to be faithful Ponseti practitioners who use fiberglass with very good results. I believe there are a few others, but a very few to be sure. None of the other leading CF docs (Herzenberg, Dobbs, etc.) use fiberglass. And in all honesty... what is the harm in using it anyway? It's not *that much* lighter that it really matters with an infant IMO. Fiberglass is not as moldable as plaster (nor for as long) and as such, casting can fail to keep the foot tightly in the exact place it needs to be. Plaster actually tightens a tad bit as it hardens too (not much). It's a tough call to *demand* plaster with docs that use fiberglass because if they're not using plaster in the first place and aren't one of the docs who have proven success with it... it's your first big red flag that the doc has not been trained in the Ponseti Method and/or is re-inventing the wheel (modifying). Personally I'd say don't demand it, but rather find a doc who uses the Method properly and never look back. This doc you're seeing... never heard of him/her as far as I can recall. My daughter's first cast was fiberglass. It was a good cast that actually gave her quite a bit of correction. We switched to a doc who was on Ponseti's list who uses plaster really... for those reasons alone. When we first started with all this the one big thing that stood out to me was plaster vs fiberglass and I knew I wanted my daughter to have plaster because Dr. Ponseti says it should be. What I find so interesting about this is that even after all these years correcting feet Dr. Ponseti still uses plaster. I'm sure he could do it just as well as Mosca and Pirani with fiberglass but he chooses not to and trains doctors to use plaster. The way I figure it... if fiberglass was good enough he'd be using it. Kori At 06:48 PM 7/3/2006, you wrote: >This is my second question,but actually my first direct one. > >I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there anything about >plaster that is so >consistently great that one should demand its use in place of >fiberglass-- which >Spoonseller >uses. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 Part of the correction process is being able to mold the plaster just right when casting. Fiberglass does not lend itself to molding as well. There are very few docs using the Ponseti method who are using fiberglass exclusively with excellent results. HTH, > > This is my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there anything about > plaster that is so > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of fiberglass-- which > Spoonseller > uses. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 Just have to put in my two bits here - I think it really depends on which fibreglass is being used....all of my son's fibreglass casts were the 3M sofcasts that Dr. Pirani had specially made in the 1 " size for even better moldability. I did not see that there was any trouble with the shaping as it was hardening. Now that being said, a lot of the casts we had initially at Children's slipped likely due to the shaping. However, once we switched we had no problems until the very end, where Hayden was old enough to fight against the casting process altogether. The sofcast does not require a cast cutter to remove - it simply peels off of itself and we were able to remove quite a few of them, particularly when he had skin problems, which was more convenient than spending an eternity in the emergency waiting room. Note: Do NOT soak the fibreglass - it can cause maceration of the skin - very important. If nothing else, fibreglass is less messy than plaster - not really a reason to switch if the plaster is working tho'. Also, Dr. Ponseti has had no problems with Dr. Pirani using the fibreglass. The only other thing I would say is that perhaps Hayden might not have had the skin problems he did, had he had plaster - who knows? Anyway, there you go. This is my second question,but actually my first direct one. I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there anything about plaster that is so consistently great that one should demand its use in place of fiberglass-- which Spoonseller uses. --------------------------------- All new Yahoo! Mail - --------------------------------- Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 I just wanted to point out that Dr. Pirani has shown to be a *MASTER* with fiberglass and his castings are good and work. Dr. Mosca as well, and Dr. Ponseti has in effect given his *blessing* to these docs who show good results. Not many docs can say Dr. Ponseti trusts them to use fiberglass. The bottom line on fiberglass is that very few other docs can claim this and their results show it. If the doc isn't getting 95-98% full correction in less than 9-12 weeks (weeks 9-12 being a very select few feet with severe atypical/complex deformities) something is wrong. Add use of fiberglass to that and everything is wrong. The standard of plaster for Ponseti casting should remain one of the things that send up red flags with any doctor other than these select FEW docs who are proficient with fiberglass. Ponseti casting is done with plaster and it is in most cases an essential part of getting it right. Fiberglass is and should be considered a deviation from the method which very likely will result in a less than optimal outcome. If a doc is not an expert with fiberglass, it should not be used. Most fiberglass casts for babies are of the *soft cast* variety now and they are very easy to unwrap. My daughter's first cast was this kind. Sure it was convenient... but so was the plaster she had after that and really... so was the cast saw they used to take it off. Personally, the saw is fine for me and I would prefer it over soaking however that is a personal opinion and many parents are happy to soak. Either way... it's not enough bother or inconvenience to worry about. , not to contradict you at all (you know it!!) but in all honesty, the only one who gets messy with the plaster casts is the doc (funny seeing the doc on clubfoot day come in with plaster on his pants and hands, when I commented about it he brushed the dust off and said " it washes " ...). I did not find it to be problematic or messy in any way :~} Kori At 07:42 PM 7/5/2006, you wrote: >Just have to put in my two bits here - I think it really depends on >which fibreglass is being used....all of my son's fibreglass casts >were the 3M sofcasts that Dr. Pirani had specially made in the 1 " >size for even better moldability. I did not see that there was any >trouble with the shaping as it was hardening. Now that being said, a >lot of the casts we had initially at Children's slipped likely due >to the shaping. However, once we switched we had no problems until >the very end, where Hayden was old enough to fight against the >casting process altogether. > >The sofcast does not require a cast cutter to remove - it simply >peels off of itself and we were able to remove quite a few of them, >particularly when he had skin problems, which was more convenient >than spending an eternity in the emergency waiting room. Note: Do >NOT soak the fibreglass - it can cause maceration of the skin - very important. > >If nothing else, fibreglass is less messy than plaster - not really >a reason to switch if the plaster is working tho'. > >Also, Dr. Ponseti has had no problems with Dr. Pirani using the >fibreglass. The only other thing I would say is that perhaps Hayden >might not have had the skin problems he did, had he had plaster - who knows? > >Anyway, there you go. > > This is my >second question,but actually my first direct one. > >I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there anything about >plaster that is so >consistently great that one should demand its use in place of >fiberglass-- which >Spoonseller >uses. > > > > > > >--------------------------------- >All new Yahoo! Mail - >--------------------------------- >Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 My daughter is also a patient of Dr. Pirani's and he corrected her foot with 4 fiberglass casts. This discussion has been a topic of debate since I have been here (2yrs). My opinion is this...plaster casts are easier to mold thus making it easier for the doctor and cast tech to get the foot into the exact position they want. That said, we have seen wonderful results with fiberglass with Dr. Pirani who was one of the first few to adopt Dr. Ponseti's method exclusively (over 10 yrs ago) in North America so I think that unless you have a highly skilled/practiced Ponseti doctor that has seen great results with using fiberglass then I would want to err on the side of caution and ask for plaster. It's a hard call, if I were confident with the doctor, I personally would allow him/her to try the fiberglass casts (I am biased though lol). Keep an eye on the casting process is my main advise, plaster OR fiberglass! There are detailed pics of exactally how each cast should look in the Global Help booklet. If the casts do not look right plaster or fiberglass, it's time to think about switching to either a Ponseti certifed or Ponseti recommended (by parents here who have seen good results) doctor. I have not personally heard of Dr. Spoonseller -- hopefully you will get some feedback from some of his patients parents. Our daughter was rated a 5.5 in severity but was corrected with only 4 casts by expert Ponseti trained hands. The foot no matter how severe should be able to be corrected with usually 5-7 casts. In rare instances a couple more may be needed but no more than 9 casts should really ever be needed to achieve a beautifully corrected foot & Grace 23 mos unilateral right club foot FAB 12-14hrs This is my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there anything about > plaster that is so > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of fiberglass-- which > Spoonseller > uses. > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > All new Yahoo! Mail - > --------------------------------- > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 My one additional comment to this discussion: Ponseti casting is an art. The " artist " should use the material most suited to the work, unless he has the experience using another medium with the results to back him up. Like said, the bottom line is the results. If the desired results are not appearing, i.e. corrected feet, it's time to switch to a different doctor. This is > my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > anything about > > plaster that is so > > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > fiberglass-- which > > Spoonseller > > uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > All new Yahoo! Mail - > > --------------------------------- > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 I thought that was a very interesting statement that you made about no matter how severe the case of club foot, that it should be able to be corrected with 5-7 casts. I am currently in the process of trying to decide whether or not to seek a second opinion about my son's feet. & Dino 7 mos. bilateral club foot Re: plaster v fiberglass My daughter is also a patient of Dr. Pirani's and he corrected her foot with 4 fiberglass casts. This discussion has been a topic of debate since I have been here (2yrs). My opinion is this...plaster casts are easier to mold thus making it easier for the doctor and cast tech to get the foot into the exact position they want. That said, we have seen wonderful results with fiberglass with Dr. Pirani who was one of the first few to adopt Dr. Ponseti's method exclusively (over 10 yrs ago) in North America so I think that unless you have a highly skilled/practiced Ponseti doctor that has seen great results with using fiberglass then I would want to err on the side of caution and ask for plaster. It's a hard call, if I were confident with the doctor, I personally would allow him/her to try the fiberglass casts (I am biased though lol). Keep an eye on the casting process is my main advise, plaster OR fiberglass! There are detailed pics of exactally how each cast should look in the Global Help booklet. If the casts do not look right plaster or fiberglass, it's time to think about switching to either a Ponseti certifed or Ponseti recommended (by parents here who have seen good results) doctor. I have not personally heard of Dr. Spoonseller -- hopefully you will get some feedback from some of his patients parents. Our daughter was rated a 5.5 in severity but was corrected with only 4 casts by expert Ponseti trained hands. The foot no matter how severe should be able to be corrected with usually 5-7 casts. In rare instances a couple more may be needed but no more than 9 casts should really ever be needed to achieve a beautifully corrected foot & Grace 23 mos unilateral right club foot FAB 12-14hrs This is my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there anything about > plaster that is so > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of fiberglass-- which > Spoonseller > uses. > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > All new Yahoo! Mail - > --------------------------------- > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 You might be interested in reading Egbert's " parent's research papers " that are in the files section. did a lot of personal research and condensed it into a few different files. I'm not sure exactly if there is specifics in there about plaster versus fiberglass, but there is detailed information about the method and after you understand the specifics about how the bones have to be moved and held in precision, you'll see why it takes a very skilled individual to have good success with fiberglass. My understanding is that fiberglass may also require more casts to achieve final correction- perhaps because the amount of correction achieved at each step is a bit less using fiberglass due to the nature of the material. It would be interesting to know the average number of casts for Dr. Pirani and Dr. Mosca compared to say Dobbs and Herzenberg who use plaster! Another point that mentioned is that there are many types of fiberglass materials too, so that plays a factor in the outcome. Regardless, a doctor's personal statistics would be a good indicator of whether they're doing things right or not. (The avg. number of casts required to achieve correction, the percentage of patients who require additional invasive procedures (other than a percutaneous tenotomy), the percentage of patients who relapse etc.) That Global HELP booklet is really ideal in understanding the particulars about the method and determining if the doctor is following proper protocol. There's also information on Dr. Ponseti's website under the technical pages that are geared toward physicians. There's also some links to various medical studies at http://members.tripod.com/ponseti_links-ivil that might interest you. Regards, & (3-16-00, lcf) > Does anyone have any hard facts on fiberglass v. plaster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 My feathers are not ruffled. I was not trying to snipe at anyone personally, and I appreciate all the input. I will discuss all the issues that the nice person --whose name I did not mentioned-- brought up in her very thoughtful post with the Doctor I am seeing. I will not mention that kind persons name at that time. I believe her points are good ones, and the casting times are very much the kind of hard facts that Doctors need to address. Anyway, for the record I have surgically corrected bilateral clubfeet, and because of a trauma neeeded other surgical correction at Hopkins. I have faith in them, despite the fact that I spent most of my early childhood in their waiting rooms. I told my baby when I was born, 'welcome to the club' This is my > > > >second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > > > > >I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > anything about > > > >plaster that is so > > > >consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > > > >fiberglass-- which > > > >Spoonseller > > > >uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >--------------------------------- > > > >All new Yahoo! Mail - > > > >--------------------------------- > > > >Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Hello, At the Alberta Children's Hospital they are currently doing a study on plaster vs. fiberglass. My doctor, Dr. , is a " Ponseti- purist " and as such, prefers plaster to fiberglass. There are some doctors who can do a wonderful job with fiberglass (i.e. Dr. Pirani in Vancouver) yet many doctors who use the Ponseti method prefer plaster because that is what Dr. Ponseti uses to acheive his remarkable results. Dr. believes that it may take more casts to acheive correction when fiberglass is used. This is what he has observed watching his fellow doctors at the hospital who prefer fiberglass. They are not, however, on the Ponseti-approved list. Once the study is complete, I will definitely share the results here. I would say that unless I had one of the very top Ponseti doctors such as Dr. Pirani, I would definitely be inclined to want plaster used for my baby. I think that the more the doctor wants to emulate Dr. Ponseti, the better, imo. Take care, Halley Prestage mom to Keira 12/05/06 RCF s 18-20/day This is > my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > anything about > > plaster that is so > > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > fiberglass-- which > > Spoonseller > > uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > All new Yahoo! Mail - > > --------------------------------- > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Maybe, just maybe the reason Dr. Ponseti uses plaster is that they did not have fiberglass until after his career was well on its way. I mean, if it ain't broke , don't fix it right? This is > > my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > > anything about > > > plaster that is so > > > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > > fiberglass-- which > > > Spoonseller > > > uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > All new Yahoo! Mail - > > > --------------------------------- > > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 while this may be true in a sense... there's no reason to believe that they haven't experimented with fiberglass over the years and come to the conclusion that plaster is better for a very good reason. If they felt that it was appropriate, I'm sure one of the other docs in Iowa would use it, they are all younger than he is of course. Dr. Ponseti is not known to be one who hangs onto old ways, even if he is elderly. He is constantly researching and writing papers and has for his entire professional life. One would really have to assume that if it worked as well, he'd be using it because it IS lighter and less bulky. I could get a shoe on the foot of Darbi's fiberglass cast and not on her plasters. If anyone is looking out for the maximum comfort of the baby and parents it's Dr. Ponseti. He does not use a cast saw (which I find to be a non-issue personally and I really tend to coddle my infants and worry about the things that they experience when they're babies) and won't cast an upset child. He gives mama the rocking chair, turns down the lights and tells them to become happy and then he will come back. How many docs would do that?? unfortunately most of the parents (babies) who come here with failed castings were treated with fiberglass. It is absolutely suspect. 3-7 weekly castings is the norm for most every CF. Very few need any more than that, this rule holds true for almost every clubfoot. The scary thought is that we're seeing so many *atypical* (which means simply... not typical) or what they are now calling more appropriately *complex* clubfeet. At the moment there is not data on why exactly these feet are like this, but they come to Iowa in the droves and Dr. Ponseti has had to fix many of them. As far as I know, no single foot has come out of Iowa as atypical if treated initially there. Either they are lucky, there's something in the water or... well... the question needs to be asked... what's causing this? Are perhaps atypical feet being created all across the world by improper casting? Many of the babes who come here and are diagnosed as atypical/complex can say they had fiberglass casting initially with another doctor which failed to correct the foot. Which raises the question, is fiberglass part of the problem? Bad plasters are also out there, lack of understanding and shoddy casting, regardless of the medium very well may be the root cause of this recent epidemic but at least with the plaster users... a good show of an attempt to emulate Dr. Ponseti's method is in place. There is nothing wrong with plaster casts. There is no reason to *not* use them and if more parents insisted on plaster only, and if not, remove the child from the doc's care and take them to docs that employ the method properly perhaps they will eventually *get it* and stop re-inventing the wheel with this method. I'm sure Dr. Ponseti, Dr. Dobbs, and Dr. Herzenberg would be more than pleased to NOT have to re-correct all the feet they have been seeing in the past few years since docs have started telling parents they were Ponseti Practitioners when they aren't. I know I would love to reduce the number of babes who come through our groups that we have to send to these docs and others who have the ability to *fix* what other doctors mess up. These are our children, they are people who will live with the repercussions of these *surgeon's* egos and they deserve better. To allow a doctor to convince you (parent) that your child's foot is simply too far gone to be corrected without surgery because they seem nice and act like they have your child's best interest at heart... well... parents need to stop worrying about hurting a doc's feelings by second guessing them. It is your right and your obligation to second guess any doctor, for any reason, for any person in your family. YOU are the customer and YOU get to choose what course of treatment YOUR child receives. It may not be easy, it may not be cheap (compared to surgery it probably is cheap though), it may not be convenient, and it may piss your current physician off... none of this matters in the long run. In the end the only thing that matters is your child's well being and we're here to tell everyone that there is hope and good docs available (some of which come entirely FREE) all over the country should you choose to listen to us. Those of us who spend time on these boards do not do it because we have so much free time we have nothing better to do. We are not here because we have no knowledge, we've seen some really bad things over the years and we do this because EVERY child deserves to have feet they can use for a lifetime without pain or restrictions. We do it because there are STILL doctors out there who call Dr. Ponseti a quack, and use antiquated casting techniques which rarely if ever work or who think they know more than a selfless man who has spent his entire life working to help babies. There are an increasing number of docs who CLAIM to use his method so they can fool parents into staying with them while they mess up the child's foot and then say surgery is the only option. As a parent I say... this kind of crap is NOT COOL and I come here because I CARE about all these little babies. Without this information... chances are my daughter's foot would not be what it is today. I am so grateful for this group and the information I received, how could I not stick around and dedicate my not so free time (as a mother of 3) to helping other parents find the right doctor for their little one? Oh, and I do have archives of research articles and facts of science hanging around, just in case anyone is wondering. Kori At 03:27 PM 7/8/2006, you wrote: >Maybe, just maybe the reason Dr. Ponseti uses plaster is that they >did not have fiberglass >until after his career was well on its way. I mean, if it ain't >broke , don't fix it right? > > This is > > > my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > > > > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > > > anything about > > > > plaster that is so > > > > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > > > fiberglass-- which > > > > Spoonseller > > > > uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > All new Yahoo! Mail - > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 So are you saying that feet that do not respond to casting are neccessarily the product of fiberglass casting? Do you feel that Ponsti does not use glass because it is inferior? If yes to these two questions can you please direct me to the scientific literature that conclusively states these facts. I think if such data existed, it would be against the hippocratic oath for any doctor to ignore such a profound finding. This is > > > > my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > > > > > > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > > > > anything about > > > > > plaster that is so > > > > > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > > > > fiberglass-- which > > > > > Spoonseller > > > > > uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > All new Yahoo! Mail - > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 Ponseti prefers to use plaster because he can feel what he is doing better and can manipulate the feet and it's specific components more easily. He has never said that fiberglasss is technically wrong, he just believes that the dr losses some ability to finely manipulate the foot. My son had both. He needed some specific attention paid to certain secondary defects that fiberglass didn't allow his former drs to deal with... If you believe that the Hippocratic oath leads very to make the best decision every time in regard to their patients treatment, you may be as naive about that as you seem to believe others are about the afterlife. So are you saying that feet that do not respond to casting are neccessarily the product of fiberglass casting? Do you feel that Ponsti does not use glass because it is inferior? If yes to these two questions can you please direct me to the scientific literature that conclusively states these facts. I think if such data existed, it would be against the hippocratic oath for any doctor to ignore such a profound finding. This is > > > > my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > > > > > > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > > > > anything about > > > > > plaster that is so > > > > > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > > > > fiberglass-- which > > > > > Spoonseller > > > > > uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > All new Yahoo! Mail - > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 At 01:09 PM 7/9/2006, you wrote: >So are you saying that feet that do not respond to casting are >neccessarily the product of >fiberglass casting? I feel strongly, yes, fiberglass could be part of the problem. > Do you feel that Ponsti does not use glass because it is inferior? Again, yes. I think that is apparent from my postings. > If yes >to these two questions can you please direct me to the scientific >literature that >conclusively states these facts. working on that at the moment. I am sure to find many papers which report Dr. Ponseti uses plaster. Has anyone actually finished a study on this exact question, not known by me at the moment. Haley told you about the current research being undertaken at Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary by Dr. . I will be very interested in the outcome of this research. It does look like it may be the first of it's kind in regards to fiberglass specifically used with the Ponseti Method. >I think if such data existed, it would be against the hippocratic >oath for any doctor to >ignore such a profound finding. now, wouldn't that hold true to all data? Let's take all the data Dr. Ponseti has collected and published in the past 50 years and ask the same... This data exists and has existed for years yet Doctors are still performing surgeries on clubfeet even today. Well, likely tomorrow since surgeons rarely work on Sundays. If anything is against the Hippocratic Oath... this takes the cake IMO. You seem as if you have some need to believe fiberglass is better. Is there some reason you want to discount Dr. Ponseti's recommendations? Is there something about fiberglass that you feel is so beneficial that you would not do everything in your power to make sure your child got the best possible treatment available and with a casting medium known to work? Apologies if you feel this questions your dedication to your child's health. It is not. It is simply me wondering why this particular aspect drives you to need concrete data to believe that it is better. I feel I have explained in great detail why it is, and at this point if you still have questions I think you should email Dr. Ponseti and ask him to detail to you specifically why he feels plaster is better. I hope you will share his response with us all. I have been living and breathing clubfoot treatment with the Ponseti Method for over 3 years now. I have received countless emails and phone calls from parents all over the world looking for help because some doctor had no clue and nearly destroyed their child's feet with improper casting. Exactly how many babies have been shoved into shoes before they were corrected I cannot possibly count. It is almost daily that we discover here, in our very small sampling of the Clubfoot world a child who is uncorrected and headed for surgery with their current doc. When we find out about treatment history, fiberglass is often detailed. That's my data. True, it is theory and speculation. But after talking to parents this long I feel that I have a right to lay claim to this as my findings. If you question my experience and expertise please go back to the year 2003, starting in April to be exact and follow my experiences and postings. I am not new to this, nor do I make statements out of emotion only. If fiberglass were better, or equal. I would say so. Trust me on that if you cannot come to trust me on anything else. I do not lie or say untruths just to get people to different doctors. It's simply not part of my presence here. Kori > This is > > > > > my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > > > > > > > > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > > > > > anything about > > > > > > plaster that is so > > > > > > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > > > > > fiberglass-- which > > > > > > Spoonseller > > > > > > uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > All new Yahoo! Mail - > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 I just have to support Kori on this one. Whoever you are, you are not even so polite as to include your name. I think you might just be one of those people who take on some sort of nasty alter-ego when you are protected by the anonimity of the internet. You certainly lack sensitivity and your posts are very argumentative and inflamatory in the way they are written. If you simply want a rational discussion about the merits of fiberglass, you have certainly not endeared yourself to this group of people whose sole intent is to help parent and children with clubfeet get the best care possible. Kori is not on any retainers with the Ponseti doctors and as such, has no agenda to try to persuade people to have their children treated with the Ponseti method other than sheer compassion and empathy for others. Why don't you go out and do the research or simply e-mail Dr. Ponseti himself if you would like? Though, I would suggest trying to be a little more polite in your e-mail. Halley This is > > > > > > my second question,but actually my first direct one. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there > > > > > > anything about > > > > > > > plaster that is so > > > > > > > consistently great that one should demand its use in place of > > > > > > fiberglass-- which > > > > > > > Spoonseller > > > > > > > uses. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > > All new Yahoo! Mail - > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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