Ponseti Method

Most clubfoot diagnoses are made during a prenatal ultrasound exam or immediately after birth.

Weekly treatment sessions typically begin within one to two weeks of birth. In each session, a specialist uses their hands to gently manipulate and stretch the ligaments and tendons of the baby’s foot. A plaster cast is then applied to reinforce the newly corrected shape and position. This process typically continues for six to eight weeks, gradually bringing the baby’s foot into the correct alignment.

Before applying the final cast, most babies undergo a percutaneous Achilles tenotomy. This minor in-office procedure involves making a tiny incision to the Achilles tendon. By the time the cast is removed, the tendon has healed and grown to the proper length.

After the last cast is removed, the child is fitted for a special brace, consisting of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) attached at the ends of a lightweight bar. This brace is typically worn for 23 hours a day for three months. It is critical that the brace is worn exactly as prescribed, in order to ensure successful repositioning of the foot.