Discovery Health's Advice on Treating Clubfoot

September 14, 2004

I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

What are the treatments?

The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early treatment.

Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most common treatment

is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in the proper

position. It can take three to six months of casting to straighten the foot.

Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper position and

to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place around the age

of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups during the first

seven years of life are recommended.

Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet involves surgery.

Unbelievable!

Mommy to 12/17/98

and Christian 1/30/04

September 14, 2004

Frustrating, isn't it?

I have long been irked by the March of Dimes' info on clubfoot, which

includes the following, at its " fact sheet " :

" It usually takes about three to six months of casting to straighten

the foot. However, in many cases, casting cannot sufficiently correct

the foot and surgery is recommended. Often, the heel cord and other

tendons, along with the joint capsules of the ankle and foot, are too

tight to be stretched by a cast and the doctor must operate to

lengthen and open them. "

I have written to them numerous times over the last several years to

try to get them to revise it, to no avail.

I also wrote, though, to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

several times, about their website's info sheet on clubfoot, which

was similarly worded, and fortunately, if you may remember, they

recently updated it, to reflect the Ponseti method. Of course I don't

know if my emails had anything to do with that. =) but I suppose

there's a chance..

Unfortunately, it seems " stock answers " on a condition have a

persistent life on the internet, getting picked up and used at

various sites. So it can't hurt to write and urge it to be changed..

it just might work.. and every little bit of better info helps.

and Claire

> I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

>

> What are the treatments?

> The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

treatment.

> Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most common

treatment

> is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in the

proper

> position. It can take three to six months of casting to straighten

the foot.

> Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

position and

> to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place around

the age

> of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups during

the first

> seven years of life are recommended.

>

> Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet involves

surgery.

> Unbelievable!

>

> Mommy to 12/17/98

>

> and Christian 1/30/04

>

September 14, 2004

> I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

>

> What are the treatments?

> The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

treatment.

> Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most common

treatment

> is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in the

proper

> position. It can take three to six months of casting to straighten

the foot.

> Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

position and

> to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place around

the age

> of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups during

the first

> seven years of life are recommended.

>

> Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet involves

surgery.

> Unbelievable!

This is exactly the treatment my son received and if not for this

board he would've had that surgery to straighten his bones and

lengthen his joints.

September 14, 2004

Have you ever seen the treatment of clubfeet on the Shriner's

website? It is rather scarey. Maybe we need to contact them as

well. Actually I found this at the site for the St.Louis Shriners.

Under what clubfeet is and the treatment of it.

check out the website

http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot.html

Tyler's mommy

bi lat atypical cf 1/14/03

new brace 9/9/04

4/12/94 non cf

5/24/95 non cf

> > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> >

> > What are the treatments?

> > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> treatment.

> > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

common

> treatment

> > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in

the

> proper

> > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

straighten

> the foot.

> > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> position and

> > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

around

> the age

> > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

during

> the first

> > seven years of life are recommended.

> >

> > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet involves

> surgery.

> > Unbelievable!

> >

> > Mommy to 12/17/98

> >

> > and Christian 1/30/04

> >

September 14, 2004

Have you ever seen the treatment of clubfeet on the Shriner's

website? It is rather scarey. Maybe we need to contact them as

well. Actually I found this at the site for the St.Louis Shriners.

Under what clubfeet is and the treatment of it.

check out the website

http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot.html

Tyler's mommy

bi lat atypical cf 1/14/03

new brace 9/9/04

4/12/94 non cf

5/24/95 non cf

> > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> >

> > What are the treatments?

> > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> treatment.

> > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

common

> treatment

> > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in

the

> proper

> > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

straighten

> the foot.

> > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> position and

> > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

around

> the age

> > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

during

> the first

> > seven years of life are recommended.

> >

> > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet involves

> surgery.

> > Unbelievable!

> >

> > Mommy to 12/17/98

> >

> > and Christian 1/30/04

> >

September 14, 2004

Same here.

s.

This is exactly the treatment my son received and if not for this

board he would've had that surgery to straighten his bones and

lengthen his joints.

September 14, 2004

Same here.

s.

This is exactly the treatment my son received and if not for this

board he would've had that surgery to straighten his bones and

lengthen his joints.

September 14, 2004

I looked at that. How sad....and Shriner's has such a reputation for helping

children......no email address to them I could find, I guess it's up to people

to write letters, but to whom?

s.

Re: Discovery Health's Advice on Treating Clubfoot

Have you ever seen the treatment of clubfeet on the Shriner's

website? It is rather scarey. Maybe we need to contact them as

well. Actually I found this at the site for the St.Louis Shriners.

Under what clubfeet is and the treatment of it.

check out the website

http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot.html

Tyler's mommy

bi lat atypical cf 1/14/03

new brace 9/9/04

4/12/94 non cf

5/24/95 non cf

> > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> >

> > What are the treatments?

> > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> treatment.

> > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

common

> treatment

> > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in

the

> proper

> > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

straighten

> the foot.

> > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> position and

> > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

around

> the age

> > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

during

> the first

> > seven years of life are recommended.

> >

> > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet involves

> surgery.

> > Unbelievable!

> >

> > Mommy to 12/17/98

> >

> > and Christian 1/30/04

> >

September 14, 2004

I looked at that. How sad....and Shriner's has such a reputation for helping

children......no email address to them I could find, I guess it's up to people

to write letters, but to whom?

s.

Re: Discovery Health's Advice on Treating Clubfoot

Have you ever seen the treatment of clubfeet on the Shriner's

website? It is rather scarey. Maybe we need to contact them as

well. Actually I found this at the site for the St.Louis Shriners.

Under what clubfeet is and the treatment of it.

check out the website

http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot.html

Tyler's mommy

bi lat atypical cf 1/14/03

new brace 9/9/04

4/12/94 non cf

5/24/95 non cf

> > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> >

> > What are the treatments?

> > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> treatment.

> > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

common

> treatment

> > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in

the

> proper

> > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

straighten

> the foot.

> > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> position and

> > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

around

> the age

> > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

during

> the first

> > seven years of life are recommended.

> >

> > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet involves

> surgery.

> > Unbelievable!

> >

> > Mommy to 12/17/98

> >

> > and Christian 1/30/04

> >

September 14, 2004

I looked at that. How sad....and Shriner's has such a reputation for helping

children......no email address to them I could find, I guess it's up to people

to write letters, but to whom?

s.

Re: Discovery Health's Advice on Treating Clubfoot

Have you ever seen the treatment of clubfeet on the Shriner's

website? It is rather scarey. Maybe we need to contact them as

well. Actually I found this at the site for the St.Louis Shriners.

Under what clubfeet is and the treatment of it.

check out the website

http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot.html

Tyler's mommy

bi lat atypical cf 1/14/03

new brace 9/9/04

4/12/94 non cf

5/24/95 non cf

> > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> >

> > What are the treatments?

> > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> treatment.

> > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

common

> treatment

> > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in

the

> proper

> > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

straighten

> the foot.

> > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> position and

> > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

around

> the age

> > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

during

> the first

> > seven years of life are recommended.

> >

> > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet involves

> surgery.

> > Unbelievable!

> >

> > Mommy to 12/17/98

> >

> > and Christian 1/30/04

> >

September 14, 2004

I am looking into it further. If I have to I could ask Dr.Dobbs

about who we would need to contact to see about getting that info

revised with the newer better ponsetti treatment.

Tyler's mommy

bi lat atypical cf 1/14/03

new brace 9/9/04

4/12/94 non cf

5/24/95 non cf

> > > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> > >

> > > What are the treatments?

> > > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> > treatment.

> > > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

> common

> > treatment

> > > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay

in

> the

> > proper

> > > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

> straighten

> > the foot.

> > > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> > position and

> > > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

> around

> > the age

> > > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

> during

> > the first

> > > seven years of life are recommended.

> > >

> > > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet

involves

> > surgery.

> > > Unbelievable!

> > >

> > > Mommy to 12/17/98

> > >

> > > and Christian 1/30/04

> > >

September 14, 2004

Right at the top of that page - underneath the Clubfoot header, it

says:

This information was provided by the Spokane Shriners Hospital

911 W. 5th Avenue

Spokane, Washington 99210-2472

Telephone

This may be a good place to start.

Daiga and Owen, 02/04/03

Unilateral LCF, FAB 14/24

> > > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> > >

> > > What are the treatments?

> > > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> > treatment.

> > > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

> common

> > treatment

> > > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in

> the

> > proper

> > > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

> straighten

> > the foot.

> > > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> > position and

> > > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

> around

> > the age

> > > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

> during

> > the first

> > > seven years of life are recommended.

> > >

> > > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet

involves

> > surgery.

> > > Unbelievable!

> > >

> > > Mommy to 12/17/98

> > >

> > > and Christian 1/30/04

> > >

September 14, 2004

,

There are 19 Shriners Hospitals around the US and different doctors

at each hospital use different methods of treatment. But slowly more

and more are using the Ponseti method.

The Shriners Patient education site has 3 different articles on

clubfoot. http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/index.html

The site you had found was written by doctors at the Spokane Shriners

Hospital and does not mention the Ponseti method.

method.http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot.html

I met one of the ped ortho's from Spokane Shriners at the U of Iowa

about 2 years ago. I had gotten the impression from talking to him

that he was going to be using the Ponseti method more in the future,

but so far, that web site article has not changed.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/message/11427

The 2nd site was written by the Houston Shriners and mentions that

there are different methods of treamtent, (some 95% surgical and some

almost 0% surgical). But they also do not mention the Ponseti

method. http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot2.html

The Ponseti method is the topic of the Minneapolis Shriners Hospital

article on clubfoot. They switched over to the Ponseti method about

3 years ago.

http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfootponseti.html

In March 2001, I was able to go to the AAOS Convention in San

Francisco where the new pediatric orthopedic medical director of all

Shriners Hospitals was speaking as part of a group on clubfoot

treatment. After his talk and in subsequent contacts, I encouraged

him to see if it was possible for Shriners to universally advise all

new parents at every hospital about the existance of the Ponseti

method.

His response was that they did not try to tell any doctor what he

should be doing in the method of treatment he used for his patients.

I suggested that may be true if the Parents were coming to see a

specific doctor, but that the Parents were coming to see Shriners and

usually had no idea who their doctor would be. I suggested that

since the Shriners system knew that the Ponseti method was possible

and worked well that they perhaps should have an obligation to

provide information to Parents on the existing treatment

alternatives. Otherwise, if there were 2 doctors in a Shriners

Hospital and one did surgery and the other did Ponseti, that

essentially, Shriners was determining whether or not the child had

the surgery by which doctor they assigned to treat the child. I

thought it would be much better to provide the information to the

Parents and let them help in deciding the course of treatment for

their own child.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/message/6140

> > > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> > >

> > > What are the treatments?

> > > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> > treatment.

> > > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

> common

> > treatment

> > > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in

> the

> > proper

> > > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

> straighten

> > the foot.

> > > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> > position and

> > > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

> around

> > the age

> > > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

> during

> > the first

> > > seven years of life are recommended.

> > >

> > > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet

involves

> > surgery.

> > > Unbelievable!

> > >

> > > Mommy to 12/17/98

> > >

> > > and Christian 1/30/04

> > >

September 14, 2004

,

There are 19 Shriners Hospitals around the US and different doctors

at each hospital use different methods of treatment. But slowly more

and more are using the Ponseti method.

The Shriners Patient education site has 3 different articles on

clubfoot. http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/index.html

The site you had found was written by doctors at the Spokane Shriners

Hospital and does not mention the Ponseti method.

method.http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot.html

I met one of the ped ortho's from Spokane Shriners at the U of Iowa

about 2 years ago. I had gotten the impression from talking to him

that he was going to be using the Ponseti method more in the future,

but so far, that web site article has not changed.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/message/11427

The 2nd site was written by the Houston Shriners and mentions that

there are different methods of treamtent, (some 95% surgical and some

almost 0% surgical). But they also do not mention the Ponseti

method. http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfoot2.html

The Ponseti method is the topic of the Minneapolis Shriners Hospital

article on clubfoot. They switched over to the Ponseti method about

3 years ago.

http://www.shrinershq.org/patientedu/clubfootponseti.html

In March 2001, I was able to go to the AAOS Convention in San

Francisco where the new pediatric orthopedic medical director of all

Shriners Hospitals was speaking as part of a group on clubfoot

treatment. After his talk and in subsequent contacts, I encouraged

him to see if it was possible for Shriners to universally advise all

new parents at every hospital about the existance of the Ponseti

method.

His response was that they did not try to tell any doctor what he

should be doing in the method of treatment he used for his patients.

I suggested that may be true if the Parents were coming to see a

specific doctor, but that the Parents were coming to see Shriners and

usually had no idea who their doctor would be. I suggested that

since the Shriners system knew that the Ponseti method was possible

and worked well that they perhaps should have an obligation to

provide information to Parents on the existing treatment

alternatives. Otherwise, if there were 2 doctors in a Shriners

Hospital and one did surgery and the other did Ponseti, that

essentially, Shriners was determining whether or not the child had

the surgery by which doctor they assigned to treat the child. I

thought it would be much better to provide the information to the

Parents and let them help in deciding the course of treatment for

their own child.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nosurgery4clubfoot/message/6140

> > > I was just messing around with search engines and found this..

> > >

> > > What are the treatments?

> > > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> > treatment.

> > > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

> common

> > treatment

> > > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay in

> the

> > proper

> > > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

> straighten

> > the foot.

> > > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in proper

> > position and

> > > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

> around

> > the age

> > > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

> during

> > the first

> > > seven years of life are recommended.

> > >

> > > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet

involves

> > surgery.

> > > Unbelievable!

> > >

> > > Mommy to 12/17/98

> > >

> > > and Christian 1/30/04

> > >

September 15, 2004

,

I agree, they should at least inform the patients of the non-

surgical method. Tyler sees Dr. Dobbs at the St. Louis Shriners.

We all know how dedicated to the method he is, that is why I was so

amazed to find that information on the site for St. Louis Shriners.

Another interesting fact I found out through doing some research,

Tyler's last ortho, the one who didn't really do much for Tyler

after 18 months of treatment, did his internship at the Shriner's in

Lexington. Just found that kinda interesting. I was just amazed on

how extensive a surgery that site talked about for something that

could be corrected with NO surgery. I just find that really amazing.

Tyler's mommy

bi lat atypical cf 1/14/03

new brace 9/9/04

4/12/94 non cf

5/24/95 non cf

> > > > I was just messing around with search engines and found

this..

> > > >

> > > > What are the treatments?

> > > > The disabling effects of clubfoot can be avoided with early

> > > treatment.

> > > > Generally, treatment will begin soon after birth. The most

> > common

> > > treatment

> > > > is a series of casts, which gradually train the foot to stay

in

> > the

> > > proper

> > > > position. It can take three to six months of casting to

> > straighten

> > > the foot.

> > > > Other cases will require surgery to place the bones in

proper

> > > position and

> > > > to open and lengthen joints. This surgery often takes place

> > around

> > > the age

> > > > of 6 months. Because clubfoot can recur, frequent checkups

> > during

> > > the first

> > > > seven years of life are recommended.

> > > >

> > > > Almost everything I read about clubfoot on the internet

> involves

> > > surgery.

> > > > Unbelievable!

> > > >

> > > > Mommy to 12/17/98

> > > >

> > > > and Christian 1/30/04

> > > >

September 15, 2004