Congenital clubfoot treatment outcome with ponseti method is not influenced by nutritional status

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative nutritional status on the outcome of bilateral congenital clubfoot (CCF) correction using the Ponseti method in infants. A prospective study was carried out between September 2021 and June 2022, including patients aged 0 to 2 years, of both sexes, diagnosed with bilateral CCF treated using the Ponseti method. Anthropometric measurements were collected, a subjective global nutritional assessment questionnaire (SGNA) was applied and complications were identified. The sample consisted of 18 patients (mean age = 3.85 months), predominantly Caucasian (55.5%) and eutrophic (50%) at birth. Regarding preoperative SGNA, two patients were classified as moderately/severely malnourished. Eight patients obtained the same evaluation and nine presented different classifications when comparatively evaluated regarding ideal body weight and body mass index in consultation #1. Of the total number of patients, 22.2% presented recurrence. In conclusion, no significant differences were observed between birth weight and preoperative data, preoperative SGNA and fasting time between patients who had a good or poor outcome after CCF treatment.