5 Things You Should Know About Congenital Clubfoot

In the United States, approximately 1 in every 1,000 babies is born with congenital clubfoot. This relatively rare condition can cause a baby’s foot to point down and inward, making it difficult for them to walk or stand. 

If you are expecting a baby and have been told that he or she has congenital clubfoot, it is important to understand what this means and how it can be treated. Here are five things you should know about congenital clubfoot.

What is Congenital Clubfoot

Clubfoot is a congenital condition—meaning it’s present at birth—in which one or both of the feet are turned inward so that the soles of the feet face each other. Babies born with congenital clubfoot often have feet that look like they are wearing boxing gloves, and they may walk on the sides of their feet instead of on top. This is due to tendons in their ankles not working correctly versus actually being physically deformed, as can be common with clubfeet caused by neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy. 

What Causes Congenital Clubfoot?

A congenital clubfoot occurs because of an error in development while a baby is developing inside his or her mother's womb. The foot is supposed to have a certain bone structure, muscles, and tendons. Babies born with congenital clubfoot may have a problem in any or all of these areas.

Treatment Options for Congenital Clubfoot 

Casting

Casts (the most common treatment) involve putting a foot and lower leg in one long stretchy bandage made of plaster or fiberglass and leaving it on for about 4-8 weeks. 

Bracing

Braces involve fitting the patient with special shoes that have metal or plastic parts to hold the feet in place while they grow (usually until age 2)

Surgery 

Surgery is used only when the non-surgical treatments don't work well enough.

Prevention Strategies for Congenital Clubfoot 

For women: Congenital clubfoot can be prevented by taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily one month before and during the first three months of pregnancy. Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that helps to prevent birth defects in the baby's neural tube - which develops into the brain and spinal cord. 

For women who have had a child born with congenital clubfoot: Congenital clubfoot cannot be prevented if it occurs in a prior pregnancy. However, if you plan on having more children then talk to your doctor about treatments for preventing congenital clubfoot in the future.

Support Groups for Families with a Child Affected by Congenital Clubfoot

If you are a parent of a child born with congenital clubfoot, you may be feeling overwhelmed and alone. You may not know where to turn for help and support. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to you. Here are a few:

• Hope Walks

• Clubfoot C.A.R.E.S.

• Babycenter Clubfoot Support

• Steps Worldwide

• Global Clubfoot Initiative

Congenital clubfoot is a deformity in the foot that occurs before birth. It can cause pain and difficulty with walking.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with congenital clubfoot, we hope this blog post was helpful, but if it wasn't please don't hesitate to contact our office for more information about how we may be able to help!

We're happy to schedule an appointment with you so that one of our experts can go over all your treatment options and answer any questions that come up along the way.