Clubfoot clinic puts best foot forward
Victoria Mxenge Hospital’s Clubfoot Clinic is stepping up to bring smiles to hundreds of parents and happy steps to children throughout KwaZulu-Natal. Through its successful STEPS Clubfoot Care, the referral clinic has become a beacon of hope.
STEPS clinic sees 70 to 90 clubfoot patients per month. This number includes new patients, patients that need surgery and/or plaster casts and those who visit for the corrective phase of the treatment. Also, for the maintenance phase of their clubfoot specialised boots. Treatment involves babies and children from three weeks to five years old.
“Around 2008, the clinic relocated to Victoria Mxenge Hospital after it was moved from Prince Mshiyeni Hospital. In one year, we receive referrals of more than 1 200 little patients. These are the patients who have been identified from their local and regional clinics or hospitals,” STEPS coordinator Nirasha Ramessur said.
Also read: All about clubfoot in children
Dr Adisha Nansook explained that treatment is administered through the Ponseti method – a series of casting and bracing treatments that permanently and non-surgically correct clubfoot. In severe cases, surgery is the only option.
“We absorb two-thirds of the province’s patients, and we have seen a 90% success rate, where most patients undergo treatment without requiring surgery. Maintained visits and compliant use of the boots minimise the risk of severity. We advise parents not to be negligent when babies are born with clubfoot – the sooner they start treatment, the better,” she said.
Hospital public relations officer Nontobeko Ndlela highlighted that negligence among parents and the community contributes to the non-correction of the deformity. “Patients need to book appointments at their local hospitals or clinics, which will refer the little ones to STEPS. At STEPS, we reinforce and educate parents on clubfoot and encourage regular consultations as required for treatment,” she said.
The hospital also embarked on training for staff nurses and orthopedic doctors on the techniques and management of clubfoot.
“There is still more to be done through community outreach and training for clinics and hospitals.”
Also read: Take a Step and change a child’s life this World Clubfoot Day
Thabiso Cele of Chesterville is a young mother to 10-week-old Isisa. She is elated about the results of their journey with STEPS. “Baby Isisa started visiting the clinic when she was just four weeks old. When she was born with clubfoot, I started blaming myself. I felt like I had done something wrong during my pregnancy. We were then referred to STEPS by King Dinizulu Hospital where I gave birth. Every two weeks, we come here for consultation and plaster-cast replacement, and every time we do, I am impressed with the results.”
She said that although the trips to the clinic were financially draining, she had no complaints, especially because there is a temporary Care Dependency Grant from SASSA, which enables the families to have money for frequent travelling during treatment.
One unemployed mother, Nosicelo Tokwana from Mayville, visited the clinic for a sixth consultation. She was referred from Wentworth Hospital. When baby Asakhanya was born with clubfoot, she said she slipped into depression. But after their STEP’s journey began, a spark of hope started to glow. “Each week, I see positive results. My baby girl is getting to be normal,” she said happily.
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