Aims:

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the Ponseti treatment and related problems andtheshort term outcome of this Method among Children With clubfoot treated at Gatagara orthopedic and rehabilitation hospital from July 2017 To March 2019. Study design: This was a case series study.Place and duration of study: The study was conducted at Gatagara Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital in Rwanda (GORH) from July 2017 To March 2019.

Methodology:

All information needed werecollected using a questionnaire. Part of information was  extracted from patients’ files while the remaining was directly obtained from the parents/guardians. Data wereanalyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive analysis wasdone. Informed consent was obtainedfrom the parents or care givers before being included in the study.

Results:

Fifty five children(91 feet)wereinvolved in the study. Good short term outcome of Ponseti method was observed in 72.5% of cases.The mean initial Pirani score on Right foot decreased from 4.7(SD 1.14) to 0.6(SD 0.94) at the time of consultation. On the left foot the initial Pirani score mean decreased from 4.6 (SD 1.17) to 0.8(SD 1.2). The difference in both means was statistically significant (P ˂.001). Full time adherence on SFAB was reported in 43(78.2%) patients. Main challenges faced were late presentation for treatment, compliance with the treatment regime and financial constraints.

Conclusion: The difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment Pirani score means showedastatistically significant improvement(P˂.001). The efficacy of the treatment in this study wasestimated at 72.5% and the recurrence rate was 27.5%. Main challenges faced at GORH were financial constraints, poor compliance with clinic appointment and the use of brace.