Re: Wheaton Brace (AFO) vs. DBB shoes

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/03 12:09:52 PM Eastern Standard Time,

towerrena@... writes:

> . Has anyone used this brace

> to treat club foot and if so, how did it do? His Ortho Dr. is

> absolutely wonderful and I don't think he would do anything to hinder

> 's progress. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

>

I don't know if you really want to hear my input about this, because I had

such a negative experience. Just remember that every child is different, and

every case of clubfoot is different! My Hannah was not treated with the

Ponseti method from birth. She was getting serial casting done until she was

4 months old. At that time, the ortho put her in the Wheaton braces. In a

matter of 3 weeks, her feet had reverted back to the clubbed position. The

doctor then sent us to a specialist who was using the Ponseti method, and

although she was a bit behind, she did have some more casting, the heel cord

surgery, and the DBB. She's doing very well now. I wasn't sure if I should

send this or not, but I thought it would be best for hear negatives as well

as positives so you can weigh your decision. I think they ALL have a tough

time with the DBB at first, but if your son seemed to be in constant pain

with them, perhaps his shoes were not fitting correctly? I'll pray for it all

to work out for you...there is a " best " way for your child that may not be

the best for mine!

God Bless You!

Sally in PA, mom to Hannah (22 mo., bcp, repaired 6/20/02, bilateral club

feet), Rebekah (7), (8), and (11)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/03 2:31:33 PM Eastern Standard Time,

srekila@... writes:

> Could you describe what is the Wheaton Brace like? I'm not sure but

> I think my son tried to wear it after 4 months of casting. Is there

> a picture of it on the Internet?

>

<A HREF= " http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wafo.html " >Wheaton Brace Co. |

Products | Wheaton Ankle Foot Orthosis</A> Here's a

picture...but Hannah's didn't look quite like that! They are plastic with a

velcro strap.

God Bless You!

Sally in PA, mom to Hannah (22 mo., bcp, repaired 6/20/02, bilateral club

feet), Rebekah (6), (8), and (11)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/03 2:31:33 PM Eastern Standard Time,

srekila@... writes:

> Could you describe what is the Wheaton Brace like? I'm not sure but

> I think my son tried to wear it after 4 months of casting. Is there

> a picture of it on the Internet?

>

<A HREF= " http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wafo.html " >Wheaton Brace Co. |

Products | Wheaton Ankle Foot Orthosis</A> Here's a

picture...but Hannah's didn't look quite like that! They are plastic with a

velcro strap.

God Bless You!

Sally in PA, mom to Hannah (22 mo., bcp, repaired 6/20/02, bilateral club

feet), Rebekah (6), (8), and (11)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/03 2:31:33 PM Eastern Standard Time,

srekila@... writes:

> Could you describe what is the Wheaton Brace like? I'm not sure but

> I think my son tried to wear it after 4 months of casting. Is there

> a picture of it on the Internet?

>

<A HREF= " http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wafo.html " >Wheaton Brace Co. |

Products | Wheaton Ankle Foot Orthosis</A> Here's a

picture...but Hannah's didn't look quite like that! They are plastic with a

velcro strap.

God Bless You!

Sally in PA, mom to Hannah (22 mo., bcp, repaired 6/20/02, bilateral club

feet), Rebekah (6), (8), and (11)

[Guest guest]

Could you describe what is the Wheaton Brace like? I'm not sure but

I think my son tried to wear it after 4 months of casting. Is there

a picture of it on the Internet?

Sanna & Veeti 6.5.02, left clubfoot, two weeks to go with the last

cast

> Help??!! My son , born 10/10/02 right club foot, was put

into

> the DBB shoes. This took place after a three week casting

following

> his tenotomy surgery. For two weeks he did not sleep very well

(20-

> 30 minutes at a time and would wake up crying), he was extremley

> frustrated! He didn't like the fact that he couldn't

independently

> move his legs (even though we did play with him and showed him

daily

> how to bend his knees to move his feet together)....so after a

> frantic call to his Ortho Dr. we had decided to try the Wheaton

brace

> which is also known as an AFO. I have to admit, my son LOVES

this.

> For him, it is no different than the casts he's had on his right

leg

> pretty much since birth. He is able to move each leg seperately

and

> it seems to hold his foot at the 70 degree angle the DBB shoes

were

> supposed to. But, because this treatment sways from the " normal "

Dr.

> Ponsetti treatment, I'm a little nervous. Has anyone used this

brace

> to treat club foot and if so, how did it do? His Ortho Dr. is

> absolutely wonderful and I don't think he would do anything to

hinder

> 's progress. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Guest guest]

Rena,

I am sorry that you are having trouble with the shoes and bar. It

seems that it usually takes from a few days to a week or so for a

child to initially get used to it and even then it can be a challenge

occasionally after that. That said, it is still a crucial part of

the Ponseti method in minimizing the risk of relapsing. Recent

Ponseti method studies have shown that NOT using the FAB/DBB as

prescribed increases that risk of relapsing by 11 to 17 times. Also,

about 15 to 20 years ago, while Dr. Ponseti was retired, the U of

Iowa tried using AFO's and found that they didn't work as well in

preventing relapsing as the FAB/DBB so they went back to the

FAB/DBB. So before you give up on the FAB/DBB we would encourage you

to check on the few things that have occasionally seemed to have been

a problem in children's adjusting to the FAB/DBB.

1. Are the shoes spaced properly at about the same width as the

outside of babies shoulders. If they are not spaced properly, it can

be uncomfortable.

2. Were the final casts externally rotated at about 70 degrees so

that the transition to the FAB/DBB as 70 degrees is not a big

adjustment. There have been a few doctors new to the method who only

took the final casts out about 45 degrees and then tried to get the

FAB/DBB to work at the specified 70 degrees. The transition was

uncomfortable because the method had been modified.

3. Does the shoe fit seem ok and are the shoes staying on. If they

are pulling out of the shoes a bit, then are the heel inserts in

place in the shoes and if there good dorsiflexion of the foot.

These are the issues I can remember at the moment from other parents

experiences. The following is on the Wheaton Brace.

If you are interested in using a wheaton brace, here is a web site

that has some information about them. They are made by a group in

Carol Stream next door to Wheaton, Illinois. They appear to have 3

different kinds. These type of retention devises are not used by Dr.

Ponseti. I had asked Dr. Ponseti about AFO type devises a while back

and he said that they had used them at the U of Iowa for a time while

he was in retirement. They found that they were not able to get them

to work as well in preventing relapsing in the Ponseti method as the

DBB had and so they went back to the DBB.

AFO - http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wafo.html

KAFO - http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wbsys.html

and Wheaton Brace AFO -

http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wbrace.html

The office of Dr. Chong who developed the Wheaton Brace which

appears to be an AFO/single brace type of bracing system. Dr. Chong's

office appears to be north across Ogden Avenue from Naper North HS.

His web site indicates that their rate of surgery is about 50%. A

question might be as to whether the 50% rate is because of their

manipulation and casting method or because the Wheaton Brace doesn't

work quite as well as the FAB/DBB.

http://www.orthoseek.com/articles/clubfoot.html

I would encourage you to call or e-mail Dr. Ponseti to ask about your

situation. His e-mail and phone are (319)356-3469

Via E-mail: ignacio-ponseti @ uiowa.edu

http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Ortho/Peds/Clubfeet/Contact.html

If he is not in, he will return your call and I believe will have

some advise that will help you and/or your doctor.

and (3-17-99)

> Help??!! My son , born 10/10/02 right club foot, was put

into

> the DBB shoes. This took place after a three week casting

following

> his tenotomy surgery. For two weeks he did not sleep very well (20-

> 30 minutes at a time and would wake up crying), he was extremley

> frustrated! He didn't like the fact that he couldn't independently

> move his legs (even though we did play with him and showed him

daily

> how to bend his knees to move his feet together)....so after a

> frantic call to his Ortho Dr. we had decided to try the Wheaton

brace

> which is also known as an AFO. I have to admit, my son LOVES

this.

> For him, it is no different than the casts he's had on his right

leg

> pretty much since birth. He is able to move each leg seperately

and

> it seems to hold his foot at the 70 degree angle the DBB shoes were

> supposed to. But, because this treatment sways from the " normal "

Dr.

> Ponsetti treatment, I'm a little nervous. Has anyone used this

brace

> to treat club foot and if so, how did it do? His Ortho Dr. is

> absolutely wonderful and I don't think he would do anything to

hinder

> 's progress. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Guest guest]

Rena,

I am sorry that you are having trouble with the shoes and bar. It

seems that it usually takes from a few days to a week or so for a

child to initially get used to it and even then it can be a challenge

occasionally after that. That said, it is still a crucial part of

the Ponseti method in minimizing the risk of relapsing. Recent

Ponseti method studies have shown that NOT using the FAB/DBB as

prescribed increases that risk of relapsing by 11 to 17 times. Also,

about 15 to 20 years ago, while Dr. Ponseti was retired, the U of

Iowa tried using AFO's and found that they didn't work as well in

preventing relapsing as the FAB/DBB so they went back to the

FAB/DBB. So before you give up on the FAB/DBB we would encourage you

to check on the few things that have occasionally seemed to have been

a problem in children's adjusting to the FAB/DBB.

1. Are the shoes spaced properly at about the same width as the

outside of babies shoulders. If they are not spaced properly, it can

be uncomfortable.

2. Were the final casts externally rotated at about 70 degrees so

that the transition to the FAB/DBB as 70 degrees is not a big

adjustment. There have been a few doctors new to the method who only

took the final casts out about 45 degrees and then tried to get the

FAB/DBB to work at the specified 70 degrees. The transition was

uncomfortable because the method had been modified.

3. Does the shoe fit seem ok and are the shoes staying on. If they

are pulling out of the shoes a bit, then are the heel inserts in

place in the shoes and if there good dorsiflexion of the foot.

These are the issues I can remember at the moment from other parents

experiences. The following is on the Wheaton Brace.

If you are interested in using a wheaton brace, here is a web site

that has some information about them. They are made by a group in

Carol Stream next door to Wheaton, Illinois. They appear to have 3

different kinds. These type of retention devises are not used by Dr.

Ponseti. I had asked Dr. Ponseti about AFO type devises a while back

and he said that they had used them at the U of Iowa for a time while

he was in retirement. They found that they were not able to get them

to work as well in preventing relapsing in the Ponseti method as the

DBB had and so they went back to the DBB.

AFO - http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wafo.html

KAFO - http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wbsys.html

and Wheaton Brace AFO -

http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wbrace.html

The office of Dr. Chong who developed the Wheaton Brace which

appears to be an AFO/single brace type of bracing system. Dr. Chong's

office appears to be north across Ogden Avenue from Naper North HS.

His web site indicates that their rate of surgery is about 50%. A

question might be as to whether the 50% rate is because of their

manipulation and casting method or because the Wheaton Brace doesn't

work quite as well as the FAB/DBB.

http://www.orthoseek.com/articles/clubfoot.html

I would encourage you to call or e-mail Dr. Ponseti to ask about your

situation. His e-mail and phone are (319)356-3469

Via E-mail: ignacio-ponseti @ uiowa.edu

http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Ortho/Peds/Clubfeet/Contact.html

If he is not in, he will return your call and I believe will have

some advise that will help you and/or your doctor.

and (3-17-99)

> Help??!! My son , born 10/10/02 right club foot, was put

into

> the DBB shoes. This took place after a three week casting

following

> his tenotomy surgery. For two weeks he did not sleep very well (20-

> 30 minutes at a time and would wake up crying), he was extremley

> frustrated! He didn't like the fact that he couldn't independently

> move his legs (even though we did play with him and showed him

daily

> how to bend his knees to move his feet together)....so after a

> frantic call to his Ortho Dr. we had decided to try the Wheaton

brace

> which is also known as an AFO. I have to admit, my son LOVES

this.

> For him, it is no different than the casts he's had on his right

leg

> pretty much since birth. He is able to move each leg seperately

and

> it seems to hold his foot at the 70 degree angle the DBB shoes were

> supposed to. But, because this treatment sways from the " normal "

Dr.

> Ponsetti treatment, I'm a little nervous. Has anyone used this

brace

> to treat club foot and if so, how did it do? His Ortho Dr. is

> absolutely wonderful and I don't think he would do anything to

hinder

> 's progress. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Guest guest]

Rena,

I am sorry that you are having trouble with the shoes and bar. It

seems that it usually takes from a few days to a week or so for a

child to initially get used to it and even then it can be a challenge

occasionally after that. That said, it is still a crucial part of

the Ponseti method in minimizing the risk of relapsing. Recent

Ponseti method studies have shown that NOT using the FAB/DBB as

prescribed increases that risk of relapsing by 11 to 17 times. Also,

about 15 to 20 years ago, while Dr. Ponseti was retired, the U of

Iowa tried using AFO's and found that they didn't work as well in

preventing relapsing as the FAB/DBB so they went back to the

FAB/DBB. So before you give up on the FAB/DBB we would encourage you

to check on the few things that have occasionally seemed to have been

a problem in children's adjusting to the FAB/DBB.

1. Are the shoes spaced properly at about the same width as the

outside of babies shoulders. If they are not spaced properly, it can

be uncomfortable.

2. Were the final casts externally rotated at about 70 degrees so

that the transition to the FAB/DBB as 70 degrees is not a big

adjustment. There have been a few doctors new to the method who only

took the final casts out about 45 degrees and then tried to get the

FAB/DBB to work at the specified 70 degrees. The transition was

uncomfortable because the method had been modified.

3. Does the shoe fit seem ok and are the shoes staying on. If they

are pulling out of the shoes a bit, then are the heel inserts in

place in the shoes and if there good dorsiflexion of the foot.

These are the issues I can remember at the moment from other parents

experiences. The following is on the Wheaton Brace.

If you are interested in using a wheaton brace, here is a web site

that has some information about them. They are made by a group in

Carol Stream next door to Wheaton, Illinois. They appear to have 3

different kinds. These type of retention devises are not used by Dr.

Ponseti. I had asked Dr. Ponseti about AFO type devises a while back

and he said that they had used them at the U of Iowa for a time while

he was in retirement. They found that they were not able to get them

to work as well in preventing relapsing in the Ponseti method as the

DBB had and so they went back to the DBB.

AFO - http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wafo.html

KAFO - http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wbsys.html

and Wheaton Brace AFO -

http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wbrace.html

The office of Dr. Chong who developed the Wheaton Brace which

appears to be an AFO/single brace type of bracing system. Dr. Chong's

office appears to be north across Ogden Avenue from Naper North HS.

His web site indicates that their rate of surgery is about 50%. A

question might be as to whether the 50% rate is because of their

manipulation and casting method or because the Wheaton Brace doesn't

work quite as well as the FAB/DBB.

http://www.orthoseek.com/articles/clubfoot.html

I would encourage you to call or e-mail Dr. Ponseti to ask about your

situation. His e-mail and phone are (319)356-3469

Via E-mail: ignacio-ponseti @ uiowa.edu

http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Ortho/Peds/Clubfeet/Contact.html

If he is not in, he will return your call and I believe will have

some advise that will help you and/or your doctor.

and (3-17-99)

> Help??!! My son , born 10/10/02 right club foot, was put

into

> the DBB shoes. This took place after a three week casting

following

> his tenotomy surgery. For two weeks he did not sleep very well (20-

> 30 minutes at a time and would wake up crying), he was extremley

> frustrated! He didn't like the fact that he couldn't independently

> move his legs (even though we did play with him and showed him

daily

> how to bend his knees to move his feet together)....so after a

> frantic call to his Ortho Dr. we had decided to try the Wheaton

brace

> which is also known as an AFO. I have to admit, my son LOVES

this.

> For him, it is no different than the casts he's had on his right

leg

> pretty much since birth. He is able to move each leg seperately

and

> it seems to hold his foot at the 70 degree angle the DBB shoes were

> supposed to. But, because this treatment sways from the " normal "

Dr.

> Ponsetti treatment, I'm a little nervous. Has anyone used this

brace

> to treat club foot and if so, how did it do? His Ortho Dr. is

> absolutely wonderful and I don't think he would do anything to

hinder

> 's progress. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Guest guest]

Yep. Veeti was supposed to wear the AFO after four months of casting

at nighttime, but after a couple of weeks we couldn't put it on

anymore. The foot had relapsed rather quickly. However, the foot

wasn't as corrected as it is now after the Ponseti-method treatment,

which probably caused the fast relapse. Also we discovered that the

AFO twisted the whole leg to the wrong position.

Sanna & Veeti

> In a message dated 3/14/03 2:31:33 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> srekila@y... writes:

>

>

> > Could you describe what is the Wheaton Brace like? I'm not sure

but

> > I think my son tried to wear it after 4 months of casting. Is

there

> > a picture of it on the Internet?

> >

>

> <A HREF= " http://www.orthoseek.com/wbc/products/wafo.html " >Wheaton

Brace Co. | Products | Wheaton Ankle Foot Orthosis</A> Here's a

> picture...but Hannah's didn't look quite like that! They are

plastic with a

> velcro strap.

>

> God Bless You!

> Sally in PA, mom to Hannah (22 mo., bcp, repaired 6/20/02,

bilateral club

> feet), Rebekah (6), (8), and (11)

>

>

>