we treAT Different Types OF DISABILITIES

From 1973 til today, our center prides itself on being one of a kind in Sudan. In fact, despite funding problems, many of the patients will often state that this is the best treatment center they've stumbled upon, whether it be a kid with clubfoot from Al-Jazeera or a teenager with cerebral palsy from Nyala. 

Sample Disabilities

ClubFoot

What is Clubfoot?
​Clubfoot is a physical deformity found at birth and can sometimes be detected before birth. While not painful, the deformity does affect a person's ability to walk. The reason for this is that in an infant born with clubfoot:
  • The top of the foot twists downwards and inwards 
  • The arch is more pronounced and the heel turns inward
  • In severe cases, the foot may look as if it's upside down
  • The calf muscle tends to be underdeveloped 
  • If only one foot is affected, it's usually slightly shorter than the other, especially at the heel
This information was derived from the Clubfoot: Causes and Treatment Article by Medical News Today. 
Occasionally, clubfoot is associated with other conditions such as spina bifida, to be discussed in further detail below.
How is it Treated?
​Here at Khartoum Cheshire Home, clubfoot treatment follows the Ponsetti Method with multiple elements including manipulation and casting, the Achilles tenotomy, and bracing.
  • Manipulation and Casting: The baby's foot is gently stretched and manipulated into a correct position and held in place with a long leg cast. The process is repeated each week until the foot is largely improved, taking 6-8 weeks for most infants. 
  • Achilles Tenotomy: Following manipulation and casting, most babies require a minor procedure to release continued tightness in the Achilles tendon. The doctor will use a thin instrument to cut the tendon and the procedure, though not requiring stitches, will take approximately 3 weeks to heal during which a new cast will have been applied. By the time the cast is removed, the tendon will have regrown to a proper, longer length and the clubfoot has been fully corrected. 
  • Bracing: Despite successful correction with casting, clubfeet have a natural tendency to reoccur and thus, to ensure that the foot will permanently stay in the correct position, the baby will need to wear a brace for a few years. 
​This information was derived from OrthoInfo.

Cerebral Palsy

What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and coordination, caused by a problem with the brain that occurs before, during, or soon after birth. 
Symptoms of cerebral palsy, which become noticeable two or three years after birth, include: 
  • Delays in reaching development milestones
  • Seeming too stiff or too floppy 
  • Weak arms or legs
  • Fidgety, jerky, or clumsy movements 
  • Random, uncontrolled movements 
  • Walking on tip-toes
  • Swallowing difficulties, speaking problems, vision problems, and learning disabilities
How is it Treated?
At Khartoum Cheshire Home, most of the therapy revolving Cerebral Palsy takes place in the form of physical and hippotherapy. In terns of physical therapy, muscle training and exercises are used to help a child's balance, strength, flexibility, and mobility. For the first years after birth, both physical and occupational therapists provide support with movements such as head and trunk control, rolling, grasping, and so on. Braces and splints may be recommended, with adaptive equipment used later on.
Additionally, children with severe deformities may need surgery to place their body parts in their correct positions. Surgical procedures can also lengthen muscles and tendons that are too short, lessening pain and improving mobility, making it easier to use a walker, braces, or crutches. 
This information was derived from an article by Mayo Clinic.
Hippotherapy is also used to improve children's motor skills, speech, and emotional well-being, and children are taken to the facility every Wednesday. 

Spina Bifida

What is Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect where part of the neural doesn't develop or close properly, leading to defects in the spinal cord and bones of the spine.  There are 3 main types of Spina Bifida: 
  • ​Myelomeningocele: This is the most severe type of Spina Bifida where the baby's spinal canal remains open along several vertebrae in the back. This allows the spinal cord and protective membranes around it to push out and form a sac in the baby's back. 
  • Meningocele: This is another serious type of Spina Bifida where the protective membranes around the spinal cord push out through the spine. The spinal cord usually develops normally so surgery can often be used to remove the membranes without damaging the nerves. 
  • Spina Bifida Occulta: This is the most common and mildest type of Spina Bifida. In it, one or more vertebrae don't form properly but the gap in the spine is small. It usually doesn't cause any problems and people aren't aware they have it.  
This information was derived from the National Health Service.
How is it Treated?
​There are multiple treatments for Spina Bifida including: 
  • Surgery soon after birth to close the opening in the spine and treat hydrocephalus (fluid in the brain).
  • Physiotherapy and occupational therapy to make day-to-day life and movement easier
  • Assistive Devices like wheelchairs and walkers
  • Treatments for Bowel and Urinary Problems
This information was derived from the National Health Service.

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