MN Report
Karachi: Foot deformities are very common in newborn children as 2, 50,000 children are affected worldwide from congenital deformities and a large number of congenital deformities occurs in Africa and followed by Asia. This deformity is more in boys as compared to girls.
However, majority of foot deformity can be treated without operation i.e. through cost-effective Ponseti method.
These views were expressed by former principal of Dow Medical College, Prof Noor Elahi, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) vice chancellor Prof Masood Hameed Khan, Prof Rana Qamar, Prof Sarwar and Dr Nusrat during inaugural ceremony of Ponseti Club Foot Clinic at the university’s Ojha Campus.
Dr Nusrat said that the majority of clubfeet can be corrected in infancy in about six to eight weeks with the proper gentle manipulations and plaster casts. The treatment is based on a sound understanding of the functional anatomy of the foot and of the biological response of muscles, ligaments and bone to corrective position changes gradually obtained by manipulation and casting.
He further said that the manipulative treatment of clubfoot deformity is based on the inherent properties of the connective tissue, cartilage, and bone, which respond to the proper mechanical stimuli created by the gradual reduction of the deformity.
The DUHS VC exhorted the youths to learn more from the experiences of their teachers.
Earlier, Prof Masood Hameed, Dr Rana Qamar and Dr Sarwar paid rich tributes to Prof Noor Elahi for teaching his students with devotion and dedication.
The ceremony was attended by senior faculty members and orthopaedic surgeons.