What is Clubfoot Bracing with BnB?.
Once casting is complete, your child will imeediately go into the Foot Abduction Brace, or BnB (Boots & Bar) as it is affectionately nicknamed.
Article: Keeping kids in braces can prevent clubfoot relapse
The brace consists of two shoes attached by a bar. The shoes are rotated outward to 60°-70° abduction for the clubfeet, and for the non-clubfoot the shoe is set to 30°-45° which is the degree of outward rotation that is considered most comfortable for non-clubfeet. The clubfoot is rotated outward to this "overcorrected" position which is essential for the clubfoot to be able to remain corrected throughout the bracing years.
Bracing starts with 3 months of 23/7.
That is, 23 hours a day for 7 days a week. Bracing is always 7 days a week.
At first, the clubfoot can relapse in a matter of hours. This is why you only get 1 hour off every day in the first 3 months. These months are crucial to keeping the foot corrected during the time immediately following casting for correction.
After the first 3 months, you will brace for "Nights & Naps". For most 6 month old children, this means about 18 hours a day. Some doctors choose to give you a certain number of hours each day to brace, while others may say "nights and naps". Some say "nights only", or "12 hours only".
Nights and naps, or a gradual reduction is the proper bracing protocol or the Ponseti Method. This nights and naps is roughly the same as a 2 hour reduction every 2 months, which lands your child at 12-14 hours at our around a year old. This timing is perfect or long term tolerance, as well as giving your child the most out of longer hours in the first year.
Longer hours in the first year has shown in the research to reduce the risk of relapse.
There are lots of out of bracing hours starting at 20 or 18 hours. With a whole 6 hours out for the first 18 hour timeframe.
Then it's 8 hours.
And then 10!!
Time off of bracing comes swiftly in the first year.
Please see these pages for more detailed information about bracing.
Bracing Studies.
Please click open the "Clubfoot Bracing" section on our Clubfoot Studies page.
