Usually triggered by a Shortened Achilles Tendon
Clubfoot is a congenital condition, meaning it is present at birth.
Clubfoot can be treated about a week after birth.
Moderate or mild clubfoot can usually be corrected without surgery, although some severe cases require an operation.
bigjom / Getty Images
bigjom / Getty Images
What Causes Clubfoot?
Congenital clubfoot happens when theAchilles tendonwhich connects calf and leg muscles to the heel boneis too short.
This causes the foot to point inward.
Bones in the foot become misaligned because of the pressure that muscles and tendons are putting on them.
Is Clubfoot Passed Down Through the Parents?
Risk Factors for Congenital Clubfoot
Certain factors increase the incidence for clubfoot.
And remember, clubfoot is almost always correctable with early treatment.
How Does Clubfoot Look?
A child might have mild clubfoot or a more severe case.
Correcting Clubfoot Through Treatment
Most cases of clubfoot can be corrected, often without surgery.
However, treatment is always needed.
This is not a condition that a child will outgrow, and oftentimes symptoms become worse if left untreated.
This treatment usually begins a week or two after birth.
This is repeated every seven to 10 days, with a new cast applied each time.
When that cast is removed the child is fitted with a foot brace.
They wear this 23 hours a day for two to three months.
This method of casting and bracing resolves clubfoot for 90% of patients.
Recap
The Ponseti method involves two phases.
During the first phase, a baby wears casts that are changed weekly for about two months.
In the second phase, the child wears a foot brace.
Physical Therapy
Another treatment for clubfoot includes an intensive physical therapy regimen known as the French method.
This involves daily stretching and taping of the foot to gain range of motion.
Surgery
Some children need surgery to correct clubfoot.
There are two general types of surgical procedures.
Children with severe cases of clubfoot will need a major foot reconstruction.
Theyre able to walk normally, wear regular shoes, and even participate in sports and other activities.
Wearing the brace or doing exercises as instructed is very important for reducing the long-term impact of clubfoot.
Summary
Clubfoot is a common deformity that occurs in about 1 in every 1,000 births.
Nonsurgical treatments work for about 90% of people with clubfoot.
While the prognosis is good, your child may experience some lingering complications.
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