Abstract
The currently accepted interval of weekly cast changes in the treatment of clubfeet seems unsubstantiated. A force sensor is needed to determine the adaptation rate of a clubfoot to establish what cast change interval would be most effective and efficient. We developed a force sensor based on the principle that the resonance frequency of an LC-tank changes when a metal target is brought in close proximity. A thin rubber ring between the LC-tank and the metal target transformed this proximity sensor into a force sensor. With a static load test and an incremental load test, the performance of the constructed force sensors was characterized. The custom-made sensor showed excellent sensitivity (() counts/N), resolution (() mN), and accuracy (() %) for the application. The observed drift was () %/log(h), which is lower than other thin force sensors. Preliminary results of measurements in the treatment of Dupuytren fingers and clubfeet show good functioning for long-term force measurements.
Highlights
A clubfoot is a congenital deformity of the foot which is commonly treated with the Ponseti method [1]
At first the foot resists the newly imposed position by pressing against the rigid plaster cast, but over time the biological tissues inside the clubfoot adapt to the new position: the force against the plaster cast decreases (Figure 1b)
The static load test was performed with 9 sensors and the incremental load test with 13
Summary
A clubfoot is a congenital deformity of the foot which is commonly treated with the Ponseti method [1] In this treatment, in the first weeks after birth, the foot is manipulated towards a more corrected position and fixated with a plaster cast (Figure 1a). In the first weeks after birth, the foot is manipulated towards a more corrected position and fixated with a plaster cast (Figure 1a) This weekly procedure is repeated several times until the deformity is fully corrected. The adaptation rate of a clubfoot can be determined by measuring the decrease of force between the cast and the clubfoot This information is essential to improve the treatment method because it can determine when the correction is due.
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