Caregiver Impressions of Bracing and Its Association With Unsuccessful Outcomes Throughout the Ponseti Treatment

Clubfoot is a common congenital foot deformity, occurring in about 1 in 1000 live births. The Ponseti method consists of weeks of manipulation and serial casting, followed by years of orthotic wear. Recurrent or relapse deformity following the Ponseti method remains a challenging problem for many patients. Many studies have attributed relapse to noncompliance with the treatment plan, particularly during the maintenance phase. Many patient risk factors have been studied and attributed to recurrent deformity, but less emphasis has been placed on aspects of the treatment method from the caregiver's perspective.