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Here is a link to a flyer on the Markell Shoe Company
website. The flyer details the latest open-toe shoe design developed specifically for bracing with the Ponseti
method. The new design was made available in October, 2003. Please note that the Fillauer brand adjustable red
bar pictured at the bottom of page one is the style used by the University of Iowa staff. Page two of the
flyer features a shoe size template that can be printed off to help select the correct shoe size when ordering.
The main Markell Shoe Company site is at:
The Markell UK website, sponsored by distributor Kettering
Surgical, is here:
Messageboard post from Martin Egbert, 4/19/04, with information
from Dr. Ponseti on the new John Mitchell designed sandal/shoes for the FAB, which were initially made individually for unusual
cases:
German brace manufacturer's website:
Fun home videos of kids crawling, climbing and walking in their braces- thanks to
moms, Kathy, Kaci, Kori (all unrelated) & Nikki for sharing these:
The photograph below depicts a foot abduction brace set to the correct
width for the child. The length of the bar should be set so that the inside edges of the heels of the shoes are
roughly equal to the width of the child's shoulders. (The adjustable length bar in the photo is covered with foam
padding.) To check sizing, you should be able to lay the brace (bar flat on the floor) on the floor and place your baby
on their back with their shoulders fitting between the shoes. (picture coming soon, hopefully!)
Below are personal photographs of Iowa-issued Foot Abduction Orthosis for unilateral clubfoot child from http://ponseticlubfoot.freeservers.com/dbb.html (circa late 2000). Old style of Markell shoe is shown in photographs. New style released in 2003.
Click on picture to make larger.
| Top of foot abduction brace |
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| Note: old style of Markell straight-last shoes pictured. |
| Left foot is clubfoot. |
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| Side view. Left foot at 70°, right foot at 40°. |
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| Plastizode (foam) heel insert. |
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| Child crawling while wearing FAB |
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| Child standing in FAB. (child can pull to stand from sitting position in the brace) |
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