When Brent Thomas was born in July of 1998, his parents Todd and Vicki of Nacagdoches were elated about having their first child. But their excitement soon turned to worry when they noticed one of Brent’s feet did not look like the other. The family’s journey to help Brent lead a normal life would lead them to Shriners Hospitals for Children – Houston.
Todd Thomas, describing Brent as a newborn, said his son’s right foot was turned inward so much that it resembled a 7-iron golf club. At first the Thomas family thought the problem would just work itself out, but their pediatrician told them to schedule an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon. They couldn’t get an appointment for weeks with a local doctor, and they found out too late that this delay cost them valuable time in their son’s treatment.
Brent was diagnosed with clubfoot, a congenital deformity of the foot that occurs in about 150,000 to 200,000 babies each year worldwide. Clubfoot results from the abnormal development of the muscles, tendons and bones located in the foot while the fetus is forming during pregnancy. While researchers have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of clubfoot, both genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role.
Treatment should begin in the first week of life in order to take advantage of the elasticity of the tissues that form the ligaments and tendons in the foot. This was not an option for Brent.
Brent Thomas - Nacagdoches, TX
Like all parents who desire the best for their children and don’t want them to suffer, Todd and Vicki sought out the most advanced treatment for Brent. Their search led them to Dr. Ignacio Ponseti from the University of Iowa. Dr. Ponseti pioneered non-surgical treatment of clubfoot that has benefited hundreds of thousands of children worldwide. He recommended lengthening Brent’s tendon through surgical intervention. He also told them about Shriners Hospitals for Children – Houston and how doctors there would be able to successfully treat Brent’s foot. Ponseti made a personal call to the Shriners’ chief surgeon on Brent’s behalf, and surgery was scheduled for the following month.
Brent had Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Lengthening (PATL) surgery at the Houston hospital to stretch his Achilles tendon and to lengthen other tendons in the foot. A tiny incision was made behind Brent’s right heel, which allowed the doctors to pull the heel down and put his foot flat on the floor. This procedure, like all other services at the Shriners Hospitals for Children, was performed regardless of the families' ability to pay.
Today Brent still goes to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Houston once a year for checkups. He is a very active 16-year-old who attends Central Heights High School. He is athletic and never allows his disability to get in the way of doing his best. Most people are surprised to learn he has experienced problems with his foot. Brent is currently a member of the Central Heights High School Varsity baseball team.