position of denis brown splint

[Guest guest]

My 7 months baby, right club foot, just went into denis brown splint

and open toed shoes following achilles tendon release surgery. I

thought the surgeon said the heels would be spread 1 inch wider than

his shoulders but the heels are about 3 inches apart on the bar. I

don't want to whine and nag at the surgeon and the orthotics people

here are really casual and vague (I had to wait 4 weeks after making

the app't before actually obtaining the ahoes but in other places I

understand it is really quick). Anyhow, does anyone know anything

about what the spread of heels should be and does it matter? He's

cheerfully wearing them 23 hours/day and plants that cold metal bar

right into my belly every night!

I'm a new member and so glad to find other moms and dads with

clubfoot as this is turning out to be more of an issue than we

anticipated. The baby has a much smaller, fatter right foot and no

calf muscle developing so will likely have longer-term effects than

was thought at birth.

[Guest guest]

Hello & welcome to the board!

What doctor is treating your child? Did you just switch to the

Ponseti method recently, or did your son have some issues with

treatment that he's just going into the bar at 7 months old?

I'll try to answer some of your questions and also add some comments!

" the heels are about 3 inches apart on the bar. "

This is *way* too close! The inside edges of the heels of the shoes

should be at a distance equal to the width of your son's shoulders.

If you go to http://pages.ivillage.com/ponseti_links and click on the

bracing section, there is a picture of how to eye-ball this

measurement. If you don't have an adjustable length bar, then you

should get into contact with your doctor/orthotist right away and get

that brace set up properly. Don't worry about " whining and nagging " ,

often parents are more educated than the orthotist on how the brace

should be set up and you have to be a persistent advocate on behalf

of your child!

" I had to wait 4 weeks after making the app't before actually

obtaining the shoes "

Does this mean that your son was without casts for 4 weeks? If so,

you'll want to make sure that his feet are still properly corrected

as just a number of hours without bracing or casting can allow

relapses to happen, much less weeks without a brace, especially right

after correction is first obtained.

" He's cheerfully wearing them 23 hours/day and plants that cold

metal bar right into my belly every night! "

There's been a lot of discussion lately on how various families have

padded the bar to protect mom & dad's shins, baby's forehead, the

furniture etc. Let us know if you want some ideas, or review some of

the messages in the archives (use the key word " pipe insulation " )!

" The baby has a much smaller, fatter right foot and no calf muscle

developing so will likely have longer-term effects than was thought

at birth. "

Actually, a thin calf muscle, leg length differences, and foot size

differences are quite common. The thin calf muscle is to be

expected. The tissue of the muscle is genetically different than a

non-clubfoot leg and won't ever be able to be " bulked up " . However,

this does not impact the use of the leg. The children run, walk,

jump, climb etc. as normal. No physical therapy is required and the

leg is not necessarily " weaker " because the muscle is thinner.

There are lots of pictures and information for you to look at in the

photos and links sections.

I hope this info is helpful! Just ask any questions!

Regards,

& (3-16-00)

left clubfoot, switched to Ponseti method at 4 mo. old

http://ponseticlubfoot.freeservers.com/