EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PONSETI METHOD IN TREATING IDIOPATHIC CONGENITAL CLUBFOOT

Abstract

Congenital clubfoot is one of the most common deformities of the lower limbs and is characterized by three-dimensional structural abnormalities of the foot, comprising four classic components: cavus, forefoot adduction, hindfoot varus, and equinus. The diagnosis of idiopathic congenital clubfoot is established when these four deformities are present and cannot be passively corrected during the clinical examination of the newborn, in the absence of associated comorbidities. Treatment should be initiated early to promote better functional outcomes and facilitate correction. This integrative literature review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ponseti method in treating idiopathic congenital clubfoot. To this end, a literature search was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, followed by the application of selection criteria. At the end of the process, 16 articles were included in the analysis. The synthesis of the selected studies demonstrates that the Ponseti method has a high success rate, making it an effective and widely recommended approach for treating idiopathic congenital clubfoot, with good clinical and functional outcomes.