What is clubfoot?
Clubfoot is a deformity of an infant’s foot that causes it to turn inward. In some cases, clubfoot is severe enough to turn the bottom of the foot sideways or upwards.
Diagnosing clubfoot typically occurs at birth, but your obstetrician might also detect the condition during a prenatal ultrasound. Many times, both of the feet have the deformity, and boys are at a higher risk than girls for having clubfoot.
While clubfoot isn’t a painful condition in infancy, the condition can lead to a permanent deformity and lifelong disability if left untreated. The team at Maguire & Early Orthopedics offers comprehensive care for clubfoot in infants and young children to ensure they develop properly and can remain physically active.
What causes clubfoot?
The underlying causes of clubfoot aren’t well understood, but genetics and environmental factors may play a role. If there’s a family history of clubfoot, a child might be at higher risk for developing the condition, too.
The two classifications of clubfoot include:
Isolated (idiopathic) clubfoot
Isolated clubfoot is the most common form of the condition and affects children that have no other underlying medical issues.
Non-isolated clubfoot
Non-isolated clubfoot develops in children with underlying neuromuscular conditions. This type of clubfoot can be resistant to treatment and require more invasive procedures to correct.
How is clubfoot treated?
The goal of treating clubfoot is to realign the foot so that the sole lies flat on the ground. This ensures your child will be able to stand and walk without difficulty.
The team at Maguire & Early Orthopedics may first use non-surgical therapies like the Ponseti method to correct clubfoot. This involves gentle stretching of the feet and casting to realign the foot and allow it to grow properly. Treatment begins shortly after birth to achieve the best results.
Bracing is also an effective treatment option for clubfoot. Many children will need bracing even with other therapies because clubfoot can be recurrent. Children typically need to wear a brace full-time for several years, and your orthopedic specialist will continue to monitor the health and alignment of the feet over this time period.
While non-surgical therapies for clubfoot are usually enough to correct the deformity, some children may need surgery to release overly tight tendons at the back of the ankle to realign the foot. Children with severe deformities or recurring clubfoot may need major reconstructive surgery to release soft tissue structures in the foot and stabilize the joints of the feet with pins.
If you need a diagnostic evaluation for clubfoot in your child, schedule a consultation online or by calling the office of Maguire & Early Orthopedics nearest you today. If your child has a significant limb length discrepancy, they may miss important milestones like crawling and walking. At Maguire & Early Orthopedics in Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara, California, orthopedic specialists Sean Early, MD, and Michael Maguire, MD, offer both conservative and surgical solutions to correct a limb length discrepancy so your child can develop on track and hit each milestone without difficulty. To learn more about treatment options for a limb length discrepancy, call the Maguire & Early Orthopedics office nearest you or book a consultation online today.
