NYU and the Ponseti method

May 18, 2004

For those of you who are relatively new to our group, I thought that

I would provide an interesting story from the experiences of parents

on the internet over the past 5 years as doctors have changed over

to the Ponseti method.

From 1980 to the mid 1990's, Dr. Wallace Lehman of NYU's Hospital

for Joint Surgery had published a book, chapters in books and a

number of scientific articles on clubfoot surgery. He is recognized

as a leading expert on the treatment of clubfoot and especially what

to do in secondary surgeries for clubfoot.

In 1999 and early 2000, something happened to change Dr. Lehmans,

Dr. Feldmans and Dr. Scher's initial approach to the treatment of

clubfoot.

In September 2000, Dr. Lehman was at the U of Iowa for a Ponseti

method training seminar as one of the instructors.

Also in September of 2000, the Cotton Family began treatment of

their child with the Ponseti method at NYU with Dr. Feldman. They

left a great photo record of their experience.

Subsequently, in April 2001, Dr. Lehman, Dr. Feldman, Dr. Scher and

other physicians at the Mount Sinai NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases

named their new clubfoot treatment center in honor of Dr. Ponseti.

On Sept. 28, 2001, the University of Iowa dedicated the clinic

Ponseti directs as the Ponseti Clubfoot Treatment Center.

At the 2002 AAOS Convention, Dr. Lehman, Dr. Feldman, Dr. Scher and

others presented a paper on the first 50 children that they treated

with the Ponseti method.

Abstract of an article by Dr. Lehman, Dr. Feldman, Dr. Scher, et al,

titled, " A method for the early evaluation of the Ponseti (Iowa)

technique for the treatment of idiopathic clubfoot, " published in

the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics, March 2003.

cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12584499&dopt=Abstract

As to what happened in 1999 and early 2000 to help change NYU's

initial approach to the treatment of clubfoot is the rest of the

story.

and (3-17-99)

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