OUTCOME STUDY OF CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT FOR CONGENITAL TALIPES EQUINOVARUS

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ahmad*, Dr. Maan Saad and Dr. Safwan Yousef

ABSTRACT

Background: Congenital talipes equinovarus is considered one of the most common serious musculoskeletal malformation that represents a major cause of physical disability globally. Objective: The aim of the current study was to determine the efficiency of Ponseti method in management of the defect, as well as determining the factors that associated with poor outcome. Patients and Methods: An analytic study included all children younger than one year who referred to the department of pediatric and orthopedic in Lattakia Hospital during the period two- years(2022-2024) who underwent conservative treatment. Results: A total of 27 patients(43 feet), 18 males (66.87%) and 9 females (33.3%) with mean age 3.61±0.8 months were included in the study. The defect was flexible in 58.1% and Achilles tenotomy was performed in 65.1% of cases. Before therapy, 90.8% of cases were with Pirani score 2-6 and after completion of treatment 88.4% were with score 1 or less, p:0.001. Initiation of treatment before age six months was associated with score ≤ 1, and male gender was associated significantly with higher frequency of Achilles tenotomy (p:0.04) and number of casts(p:0.04). Many of complications were developed in which skin irritation represented the most frequent one(6.9%). Conclusion: The current study revealed the importance of initiating therapy as early as possible in the first week of life with performing of Ponseti method in children older than 6 months who underwent other types of interventions.

Keywords: Congenital, Ponseti, talipes equinovarus, therapy, Syria.