Congenital Clubfoot Treatment Outcome with Ponseti Method is not Influenced by Nutritional Status

The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative nutritional status on the outcome of bilateral congenital clubfoot (CCF) correction using the Ponseti method in infants. A prospective study was carried out between September 2021 and June 2022, including patients aged 0 to 2 years, of both sexes, diagnosed with bilateral CCF treated using the Ponseti method. Anthropometric measurements were collected, a subjective global nutritional assessment questionnaire (SGNA) was applied and complications were identified. The sample consisted of 18 patients (mean age = 3.85 months), predominantly Caucasian (55.5%) and eutrophic (50%) at birth. Regarding preoperative SGNA, two patients were classified as moderately/severely malnourished. Eight patients obtained the same evaluation and nine presented different classifications when comparatively evaluated regarding ideal body weight and body mass index in consultation #1. Of the total number of patients, 22.2% presented recurrence. In conclusion, no significant differences were observed between birth weight and preoperative data, preoperative SGNA and fasting time between patients who had a good or poor outcome after CCF treatment.