Re: How many casts is too many?

October 4, 2004

Well we are cast #6 and that is with Dr. Herzenberg...one of the

best. Tommy does have atypical sausage feet though. He will get his

tenotomies in 2 weeks and then more weekly casting after it heals. I

don't really know the answer of how many is too many but I don't

think 8 sounds like too much. I don't think 8 casts is set in

stone. It could be less depending on how well his feet respond. We

were in #15 with our old doctor who said he was doing Ponseti. I

know that is too many and am still beating myself up that it took me

so long to realize something was not right and switch doctors.

Tommy Lee 4/23/04 Stinky little sausage feet

-- In nosurgery4clubfoot , " onemorebb "

wrote:

>

> We've been through several sets of casts, then corrective shoes,

then

> more casts with our non-Ponseti doctor. Now that I've seen the

light

> and have begun our son's treatment with a Ponseti doctor I asked

him

> how many casts he thought it would take to correct my son's feet

and

> he said 8 because of his age (almost 11 months). This seems like

too

> many casts for a Ponseti doctor. I've read many of your posts about

> Dr. Ponseti only needing three casts to correct your children's

feet.

> After all we've been through with other doctors I want make sure

our

> Ponseti doctor really is following the procedure exactly. Should

this

> be a red flag that he may not be? Or have others had this many

casts

> by a Ponseti doctor to correct their child's feet. Does it depend

on

> the severity of their club feet? My son's are severe, but he

doesn't

> have atypical club feet.

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

> and (born 11/10/03 bilateral clubfeet)

October 4, 2004

,

I recall that you've been in communication with Dr. Ponseti.. it

wouldn't hurt to run this by him and see what he says.

I wouldn't say it's necessarily a red flag, but I have to say that it

makes me a bit leery. The typical course is 5 to 7 casts, if begun at

infancy, no more than 9. If a child has already had some correction,

and then switches to a Ponseti doctor, you are right that it seems

most often to require only a few casts more. Predicting 8, right off

the bat, makes me a bit cautious. It could well be that is what is

required, but I'm just speaking frankly here.. as a gut reaction,

since you asked.

Will you remind us.. did your son lose just about all correction and

is back at square one?

We switched and went to Iowa (from the East Coast) after 9 initial

failed casts, and an unsuccessful tenotomy, when our daughter was

about 3-4 months old, and Dr. P accomplished correction with only 3

casts. In Iowa, if you are there for the 'duration', they speed up

the casting, and change the casts every 5 days, so correction can

happen in rather short order. I know there are parents of older

children who have gone there, even near age 1, who post here

occasionally. Hopefully some of them might see your post.

Please let us know.. I know you are determined to be on the right

track, and it's good to question and make sure.

and Claire

>

> We've been through several sets of casts, then corrective shoes,

then

> more casts with our non-Ponseti doctor. Now that I've seen the

light

> and have begun our son's treatment with a Ponseti doctor I asked

him

> how many casts he thought it would take to correct my son's feet

and

> he said 8 because of his age (almost 11 months). This seems like

too

> many casts for a Ponseti doctor. I've read many of your posts about

> Dr. Ponseti only needing three casts to correct your children's

feet.

> After all we've been through with other doctors I want make sure

our

> Ponseti doctor really is following the procedure exactly. Should

this

> be a red flag that he may not be? Or have others had this many

casts

> by a Ponseti doctor to correct their child's feet. Does it depend

on

> the severity of their club feet? My son's are severe, but he

doesn't

> have atypical club feet.

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

> and (born 11/10/03 bilateral clubfeet)

October 5, 2004

... My son started treatment with a Ponseti dr. at 3 weeks old and he had a

total of 9 casts. I also thought this was a lot... but the dr. said it depends

on the severity of the foot. He is in his DBB's now and doing great.

2/9/04 BLCF DBB 23/7

onemorebb tristan2@...> wrote:

We've been through several sets of casts, then corrective shoes, then

more casts with our non-Ponseti doctor. Now that I've seen the light

and have begun our son's treatment with a Ponseti doctor I asked him

how many casts he thought it would take to correct my son's feet and

he said 8 because of his age (almost 11 months). This seems like too

many casts for a Ponseti doctor. I've read many of your posts about

Dr. Ponseti only needing three casts to correct your children's feet.

After all we've been through with other doctors I want make sure our

Ponseti doctor really is following the procedure exactly. Should this

be a red flag that he may not be? Or have others had this many casts

by a Ponseti doctor to correct their child's feet. Does it depend on

the severity of their club feet? My son's are severe, but he doesn't

have atypical club feet.

Thanks in advance.

and (born 11/10/03 bilateral clubfeet)

October 5, 2004

Hi ,

had 9 casts with her first doctor (did not follow the

Ponseti method correctly), then her tenotomy and final cast. When

we switched to Dr Herzenberg (at 10 months old), he originally said

3-4 casts but it took 6 and then her second tenotomy and final 3-

week cast. And he has the reputation as the best after Dr. Ponseti

himself. I would say as long as you are SURE you are seeing a

certified Ponseti doctor, then 8 casts may not be too many. If you

have concerns during the casting process, I am sure Dr. Ponseti

would answer questions for you.

Good luck!

Marilouise

9/9/03, LCF, DBB 23/7

Owen and 3/20/99

>

> We've been through several sets of casts, then corrective shoes,

then

> more casts with our non-Ponseti doctor. Now that I've seen the

light

> and have begun our son's treatment with a Ponseti doctor I asked

him

> how many casts he thought it would take to correct my son's feet

and

> he said 8 because of his age (almost 11 months). This seems like

too

> many casts for a Ponseti doctor. I've read many of your posts

about

> Dr. Ponseti only needing three casts to correct your children's

feet.

> After all we've been through with other doctors I want make sure

our

> Ponseti doctor really is following the procedure exactly. Should

this

> be a red flag that he may not be? Or have others had this many

casts

> by a Ponseti doctor to correct their child's feet. Does it depend

on

> the severity of their club feet? My son's are severe, but he

doesn't

> have atypical club feet.

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

> and (born 11/10/03 bilateral clubfeet)

October 5, 2004

I was reading through Dr. Poneti's website again and thought of your post

when I read the following:

Our experience of 50 years indicates that most clubfeet, when treated

shortly after birth, can be easily corrected by manipulation and five or six

applications of plaster casts.

And that is for treatment of a newborn. I don't think 8 casts would be too

many for an 11 month old. It may be less if his feet respond quickly. My

son (on his second go round) needed 4 before the tenotomy cast.

Mommy to 12/17/98

and Christian 1/30/04

_____

From: onemorebb

Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 8:20 PM

To: nosurgery4clubfoot

Subject: How many casts is too many?