Clubfoot

Your feet are your foundation. They provide you with the balance, support and stability you need in order to be active. They allow you to walk, run, jump, dance, skip and stand. So if your child has clubfoot, it’s safe to say that every aspect of his or her life would be affected. Fortunately, this condition is very treatable. Norton Orthopaedic Care offers nonsurgical and surgical care for clubfoot at Children’s Orthopaedics of Louisville.

Early treatment may begin shortly after birth. The pediatric specialists at Children’s Orthopaedics of Louisville follow a technique pioneered by Ignacio Ponseti, M.D. This treatment realigns and reshapes the foot through stretching, casting and bracing. Your pediatric specialist will reposition your child’s foot with casting every week for several weeks until it is in the best achievable position, after which a minor surgery to lengthen the heel cord may be needed to achieve final correction. To maintain this correction, a brace is worn at all times until the child reaches walking age, then brace use is decreased to 12 hours a day. Over the past several years, there has been tremendous success in treating clubfoot with this method. Because treatment is started very early, walking and other milestones usually occur in a timely manner.

Sometimes clubfoot requires additional surgery due to recurrence of the deformity as the child grows. This surgery involves re-adjusting the tendons, ligaments and joints in the foot and ankle. It is done most often before school age. A cast is worn after surgery to prevent the foot from returning to the clubfoot position while it heals. The most effective way to prevent the need for additional surgery is by ensuring your child wears his or her braces exactly as they are prescribed.

The goal of clubfoot treatment is to maximize functional outcome, from wearing normal shoes to running and jumping.

What is clubfoot?

Clubfoot is a congenital condition, meaning it is present at birth. If your child is born with clubfoot, his/her foot may be turned inward so the toes nearly touch the inside of the shin. Although painless, untreated clubfoot can cause difficulties with shoe fit, discomfort and disability later in life, especially if both feet are affected.

What causes clubfoot?

The exact cause of clubfoot is not known, but it has been linked to genetic and environmental factors. Your baby may be twice as likely to be born with clubfoot if the condition runs in the family. Additionally, boys are more likely to have clubfoot than girls.

To find a pediatric orthopaedic specialist, call (502) 629-1234.