An Alternative Footbrace For Clubfoot Correction

Clubfoot scientifically known as CTEV (Congenital Talipes Equino Varus), is a congenital disease condition where the child presents with either one foot or both the feet rotated internally at the ankle. The treatment is the ponseti method, including a casting phase and bracing phase. The casting phase is the initial treatment phase and is a crude method by itself followed by a tenotomy and the successive step is the bracing phase. The major drawbacks of the casting phase were that there was no specific gradual angle change and secondly the removal of the plaster using water leading to the baby falling ill. The underlying purpose is to replace the casting with an easier and more technical technique using a brace. To render an alternative foot brace in order to replace the series of casts and at the same time ensures a gradual change in the foot orientation angle. The principle behind the design of a brace is 3-point pressure principle and so that the deformity would be corrected by gradually changing the foot angle. Fabrication is a welcome move which involves 3D printing technology. The brace ensures the gradual change in the foot orientation angle and nullifies the relapse of the foot. Simulation is performed using Autodesk Fusion 360 to understand the contact forces and resultants. The various types of stress forces and principal forces are worked with to understand the maximum and minimum force experiencing regions. Materials taken for the study is Thermoplastic Polyurethane and Carbon fiber. Further, the material properties were studied and material testing is also involved.