Assessing the Influence of Age, Weight, and Pirani Score on the Number of Casts During the Initial Phase of Clubfoot Treatment Using the Ponseti Method: A Prospective Study

Clubfoot, also known as congenital talipes equinovarus is a prevalent childhood ailment that, if untreated, can lead to long-term discomfort and impairment. The Ponseti technique, aimed at achieving corrected foot positioning, is widely accepted. This study investigated the influence of clubfoot severity (Pirani score), patient age, and initial manipulation and casting weight on the overall number of casts needed for effective treatment.

A prospective study was carried out involving 40 idiopathic clubfoot patients where manipulation and casting were performed following the Ponseti method. Patient age, weight, and foot Pirani score were evaluated concerning the total number of casts needed to achieve 70° of abduction.

The majority of participants were male infants aged 4–6 months, with a median age of 4.5 months. Half of them weighed between 3.00 and 4.99 kg at their first hospital visit, with a median weight of 3.20 kg. Bilateral clubfoot involvement was common (57.5%). Children with Pirani HFCS 2.0–3 often required percutaneous tenotomy (87.5%, p value 0.05). On average, patients needed 5 casts (range 3–9). The mean total Pirani scores were 4.71 for the right foot and 4.61 for the left foot. The study reported a positive correlation between higher total Pirani scores and the required number of casts.

The Pirani scoring system is highly accurate in assessing clubfoot severity and predicting treatment success. It emerged as the single most significant predictor for both the total number of casts and the need for percutaneous tenotomy.