The non-operative treatment of idiopathic clubfoot has become increasingly accepted worldwide as the initial standard of care. The Ponseti method has become particularly popular as a result of published short and long-term success rates in North America. Non-compliance with abduction bracing has been proven to be a major risk factor for recurrence of clubfoot. The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify those patients who were non-compliant with the abduction bracing post casting and to then assess the rate and severity of recurrence.

One-hundred and fifty children (184 feet) with unilateral or bilateral clubfoot who were treated with the Ponseti method by the senior author from 1999 to 2008 were reviewed. We identified those patients who were non-compliant with the abduction bracing. Compliance was defined as three months full time wear followed by twelve months night-time/nap-time wear. Recurrence was classified as minor, defined as those requiring an extra-articular surgical procedure and major, requiring an intra-articular procedure.

We identified fifty children with seventy clubfeet who were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. None of these patients were compliant with brace wearing. Of the 70 feet, 40 (57%) required surgical intervention. There were 30 (43%) feet with no clinical recurrence. In 5 of the bilateral cases only one of the feet had required corrective surgery. In the 29 patients who required surgical intervention we identified 52 procedures (37 extra-articular and 15 intra-articular).

Compliance with the post correction abduction bracing protocol is crucial to avoid recurrence of a clubfoot deformity treated with the Ponseti method. Despite non-compliance however there is a significant proportion of patients who do not require any surgical intervention. We recommend initiating the Ponseti technique on all patients with clubfeet rather than being selective due to anticipated compliance issues with the family.