Background:
Clubfoot is commonest congenital deformity in babies. More than 100,000 babies born worldwide each
year with Clubfoot. The main goal is to achieve a functional. pain free, planti-grade foot with good mobility.
Treatment of idiopathic CTEV is serial gentle manipulations and after casting, splinting/bracing to maintain
the correction. The main reason of relapse of deformity after conecticn is non-compliance to bracing
program as it is a lengthy process.
Aim:
The aim of study is to develop a standard, light weight 8. cost effective Foot Abduction Brace to address
the issues of non-compliance and to check its effectiveness.
Method:
It was 3 years non randomized interventional study from April 2011 to March 2014 with convenient
sampling. Sample size was 1 10 patients using Dennis Brown and AORI Foot Abduction Brace were divided
'n study and control group. 30 patients using AORI Foot Abduction Brace were included in study group
where as 80 patients using Dennis Brown Splint was included in control group. Study was performed at
Department of Orthotics & Prosthetics of Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi.
Results:
Deformity relapsed in 15% of patients in control group no relapsed was reponed in study group where P-
value was <.05 that is significant. Skin damage occurred in almost 50% of patients in control group it was
reported about 20% in study group with P-value = <.05 which is significant. Residual adduction was
reported in >50% of patients in control goup and it was reported 0% in study group with P-value = <.001
which is highly significant. Fabrication Cost of AORI Foot Abduction Brace was is atnost half of the DB
Splint. No leather and steel work is required so that an Orthotist can make it easily. It can also industriaize
and easily adustable by the families.
Discussion & Conclusion
Clinical trials of AOFtI FAB showed very good results in maintenance of corrected CTEV as the families are
more compliant with AOFtl FAB because it is light in weight have dynamic effects far Dorsi-flexion while
Dennis Brown splint is relatively heavy and found poor to maintain Dorsi-flexion that leads to the relapse
of equinus. Skin damage is also less in AORI FAB and it is cost effective with ease to fabricate without
extensive work.