Best foot forward: Dow University opens clinic

Clubfoot deformity is treated through manipulative therapy where ligaments, joint capsules, and tendons are stretched.

KARACHI:

Dow University of Health Sciences has established the Clubfoot Ponseti Clinic at its Ojha Campus to treat children with congenital clubfoot and other foot deformities.

At the inaugural ceremony of the clinic on Monday, experts stated foot deformities are very common in newborn children. Chief guest Dr Jose Morcuende, the chief medical director of Ponseti International, said two out of a 1,000 children are globally affected from clubfoot but the deformity can be treated without surgery. Senior orthopaedic surgeons Dr Anis Bhatti, Professor Dr M Masroor, and Professor Dr Mujahid Humail also attended the ceremony along with other doctors.

Clubfoot deformity is treated through a manipulative therapy where the ligaments, joint capsules, and tendons are stretched under gentle manipulations followed by the application of a plaster cast to retain a degree of correction and to soften the ligaments.

Dr Humail said the treatment is based on the biological response of muscles, ligaments and bone to the corrective position which is gradually obtained through this therapy.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2014.