There are reports that the Ponseti method is successful 95 per cent of the time in correcting clubfeet when done by an experienced physician. The method involves moving the foot into a position as close to neutral as possible and putting a plaster cast on the leg to hold it in place. As the ligaments and soft tissues stretch, the cast is removed, the foot is repositioned (again, as close to neutral as possible), and another cast applied.

This procedure is repeated until the deformity is corrected. The child wears a special splint called a Dennis Brown Bar to hold the correction. The splint is kept on 23 hours/day for at least three months. Young children are very adept at getting around with the splint on. It does not seem to hamper their development or mobility.

After the first three months, the splint may still be used at night for much longer, even up to age three or four. In a small number of cases, the Ponseti casting method requires additional minor surgery. Persistent muscle imbalance can be corrected with a percutaneous tenotomy. Pecutaneous means just under the skin. The surgeon is able to make a tiny incision in the skin and release the tendon allowing it to lengthen.

You can watch a short video clip demonstrating the Ponseti Method: http://www.clubfeet.net/video.php.