Clubfoot disability correctable sans operation: Prof Bhatti

MN Report

KARACHI- Clubfoot disability is an easily correctable deformity without operation, even if it is presented after child start walking, said Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s (JPMC) executive director, Prof Anis Bhatti.

Moreover, timely non-operative casting for 4-6 weeks followed by brace at night for next three years is the best treatment for rectifying clubfoot deformity, he added.

He was speaking at a workshop held at the JPMC to mark the “World Clubfoot Day”. The day is celebrated globally by the United Nations to create awareness among public and stakeholders that "club foot deformity is a correctable birth defect”.

A “Clubfoot disability-free Pakistan-2020" programme aimed at ensuring that no child with clubfoot deformity is left untreated was also launched on the occasion.

Prof Anis Bhatti, who is also focal person of Ponseti International Pakistan, and leader of the group of orthopaedic surgeons working worldwide for prevention of clubfoot disability, told doctors at the workshop that this deformity is neither familial nor the result of any defect in parents.

Elaborating, he said:"The non-operative correction of clubfoot deformity is the gold standard method of treatment worldwide today, and surgery is not a preferred method.”

He was also of the view that surgery often leads to painful stiff feet at adulthood, while casting gives best supple and painless feet at adulthood. 

Highlighting the objectives of the programme, called "Clubfoot disability-free Pakistan 2020", Prof Bhatti said that it is aimed at ensuring that no child with clubfoot deformity is left untreated by year 2020.
It may be pointed out that the Ponseti group had earlier organized 16 workshops and trained over 100 senior doctors on mentorship opportunity programme with the help of the USAID. They were trained at JPMC, Indus Hospital, Karachi, and LUHS, Hyderabad, under the supervision of Prof Bhatti, Prof Amin Chinoy, Prof Mansoor Khan and Prof Mehtab Pirwani.

Later, Sindh secretary health inaugurated Clubfoot disability-free Pakistan programme to extend training to all other stakeholders such as paramedics, gynecologists, vaccinators and midwives to get these children early referral, treatment and follow-up.
 
Abdullah Feroz, who was the guest of honour on the occasion, lauded the efforts of Ponseti group for prevention of clubfoot disability from Pakistan.