Quality of life of clubfoot patients during the brace period of the Ponseti method.

PURPOSE: Quantifying the quality of life in clubfoot patients during bracing following the Ponseti method compared with healthy controls.

METHODS

Data collected during the brace period of the Ponseti method and of a reference sample was retrospectively analyzed to investigate health-related quality of life scale (TAPQOL) in clubfoot patients compared with healthy controls. The TAPQOL instrument consists of 12 subscales comprising the 4 domains of health-related quality of life namely physical, social, emotional and cognitive functioning.

RESULTS

Responses of 80 parents of clubfoot patients and 238 parents of healthy controls were analyzed. On average both study groups scored high on the 4 domains of the TAPQOL instrument. The clubfoot group scored significantly (p<0.0125) lower on the subscales motor functioning, sleep, lung and skin problems during bracing. No difference was observed between the study groups in the year the bracing had ended.

CONCLUSION

Dutch clubfoot patients show an overall good health related quality of life. However, during the brace phase of the Ponseti treatment they score lower in subscales in the physical functioning domain. These results can be used in the counselling of parent and might alleviate some concerns that parents have about the bracing period.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Case control study.