Initiating Ponseti management in preterm infants with clubfoot at term age.

Currently, the optimal time to initiate treatment among preterm infants with clubfoot is unknown. The aim of this study was to describe treatment outcomes up to 1 year post-correction following Ponseti management in infants who were born preterm but treated at term age. A retrospective chart audit was conducted at a major pediatric hospital on preterm infants with clubfoot who commenced Ponseti management at term age (≥37 weeks of gestation). Data are expressed as mean values (±standard deviation) or 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Twenty-six participants (40 feet) born at 32.6/40 (±3.1) weeks of gestation were identified. Thirteen (50%) were male, 14 (54%) presented bilaterally, and 7 (27%) presented with syndromic clubfoot. Ponseti management was initiated at 41.4/40 (±2.8) weeks gestation. Baseline Pirani scores were 5.2 (95%CI: 4.8-5.6) in the idiopathic group and 5.7 (95%CI: 5.0-6.4) in the syndromic group. The number of casts to correction was 5.9 (95% CI: 5.1-6.6) for those with idiopathic clubfoot and 6.1 (95%CI: 5.0-7.3) for those with syndromic clubfoot. Achilles tenotomies were required in 13 (21 feet) with idiopathic clubfoot and five (7 feet) with syndromic clubfoot. Recurrence occurred in four infants (5 feet): 4 feet required further casting and bracing, and 1 foot required additional surgery. Ponseti management at term age in preterm-born infants yields comparable 1-year outcomes to term-born infants. Further research is required to determine whether outcomes beyond 1 year of age align with growth and development demonstrated by term-born infants who are managed with the Ponseti method. Level IV.

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Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.