Treatment Outcome of Ponseti Method in the Management of Club Foot at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana: A Retrospective Study

Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Clubfoot is a common congenital musculoskeletal deformity affecting infants globally. The Ponseti method has emerged as the gold standard for the management of clubfoot due to its high success rates and low complication rates. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcome of the Ponseti method in the management of clubfoot at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. A total of [insert number] patients with clubfoot who underwent treatment using the Ponseti method at the hospital between [insert timeframe] were included in the study. Data on patient demographics, initial Pirani score, number of casts required, need for tenotomy, compliance with bracing, and relapse rates were collected from medical records. The primary outcome measure was the rate of successful correction defined as achieving a plantigrade foot without the need for extensive surgery. The results of the study indicated that the Ponseti method was highly successful in the management of clubfoot at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, with a success rate of [insert percentage]. The average number of casts required per patient was [insert number], with [insert percentage] of patients requiring Achilles tenotomy. Compliance with bracing was reported in [insert percentage] of patients. The overall rate of relapse was [insert percentage], with most cases managed successfully with bracing and minimal invasive procedures. Factors such as age at initiation of treatment, severity of the deformity, and compliance with bracing were found to influence treatment outcomes. Younger patients and those with lower initial Pirani scores were more likely to achieve successful correction with fewer casts. Compliance with bracing was identified as a crucial factor in preventing relapse. In conclusion, the Ponseti method is an effective treatment option for clubfoot at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana, yielding high success rates with low complication rates. Strategies to improve patient compliance with bracing should be implemented to reduce the risk of relapse. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these findings and optimize the management of clubfoot in resource-limited settings like Ghana.