FOOT ABDUCTION BRACE, EXERCISE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH RELAPSE CLUBFOOT AFTER PONSETI METHOD: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background: Clubfoot or CTEV is a common muscular abnormality that is successfully treated by the Ponseti Method all over the world. However, the foremost challenging problem to the Ponseti Method is Relapse. Objective: Recognizing the pivotal roles of the foot abduction brace and exercise, this study aims to explore their association with relapse in clubfoot. Methods: Conducted as a retrospective study in the Clubfoot Department, Peshawar, relevant variables were extracted from an Excel sheet and entered into SPSS 2022. The chi-square test was employed to assess the association between relapse and the utilization of the brace and engagement in stretching exercises. Results: From December 2017 to October 2022, 1100 patients underwent Ponseti management in the Clubfoot Department at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Among them, 950 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 200 of these experienced relapse, indicating a prevalence of 21.5%. Among the relapsed cases, 136 (68%) were male, and 64 (32%) were female. Bilateral clubfoot relapse was more frequently observed compared to relapses in the left and right foot. The study revealed a significant association between relapse in clubfoot and non-compliance with the prescribed brace and stretching exercise (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: This study underscored that the absence of stretching exercises and non-compliance with the prescribed brace increased the likelihood of relapse in clubfoot.