The moment you notice a slight bend in your baby’s feet, that’s the moment you should seek treatment. Leaving clubfoot untreated sentences your child to a life of deformity and pain so start now on the path to clubfoot correction and get your child in a brace today. 

Giving birth to a child with clubfoot cannot be easy but the good news is, treatment works and many children have been known to lead normal lives. As a parent, you have the power to ensure that your child’s clubfoot is corrected. To find out what you need to do to put your child’s feet on the straight and narrow, then this is the blog for you. 

What is Clubfoot? 

Clubfoot is a common congenital condition that affects 1 in a thousand infants. It is a deformity that is noticeable at birth, where a baby’s foot is turned inward, sometimes to the point where the soles of the feet are turned sideways and in severe cases, upwards. This happens because the tendons that connect the leg muscles are too short and too tight thus forcing the foot to twist inward. 

Is Clubfoot painful? 

Clubfoot is not painful while the baby is still an infant. But, the effects can be increasingly difficult and trying as your child grows, especially if the clubfoot is not treated. Should you not seek help from an Orthopaedic Paediatrician then the deformity is likely to worsen and hinder your child’s ability to walk and function normally. 

This is why it is critical that you, as a parent, take matters into your own hands immediately. At POBAR, the doctors will recommend the best treatments for clubfoot starting as early as 1 week after birth. When proper treatment is defined and implemented from the time your child is a newborn, the higher the chances that your child will recover and continue to lead a life of independence, with little to zero deformity. 

As a baby, bones, and muscles are still supple and malleable, especially when a clubfoot brace is part of the treatment plan. This is why most cases of clubfoot can be addressed through non-surgical methods such as bracing, as well as stretching, and casting. 

How Do You Know Its Clubfoot? 

Clubfoot is a relatively easy condition to spot. Your child’s feet will look abnormal and there may be a deep crease on the bottom of the foot. The leg can appear to be shorter than normal while the calf looks thinner due to underdeveloped muscles. 

From the moment, your baby is born, the nurses and doctors will immediately report the deformity. Clubfoot is also identifiable during a prenatal ultrasound, which can give you time to discuss your options so the treatment for your child is part of your post-partum plans. 

The condition can be mild or severe and both feet will mostly be affected though it can also only present itself in one foot. Also, boys are more likely to have clubfoot than girls. 

Are There Different Types Of Clubfoot? 

Clubfoot is classified into two major groups: 

• Isolated (Idiopathic) Clubfoot: The most common form found in children with no prior medical issues. 

• Non-Isolated Clubfoot: This can be attributable to other conditions like neuromuscular disorders, such as spina bifida. 

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the classifications of clubfoot are important. Should your child’s clubfoot be a non-isolated case linked to neuromuscular disorders, then there may be resistance to treatment. This could then mean your child may require multiple surgeries to correct the clubfoot or a longer course of non-surgical treatment, spanning years.

What Causes Clubfoot? 

Although conclusive research on clubfoot causes is still prevalent. There is a widely accepted theory that it is caused by a variety of factors, both environmental and genetic. There’s also a strong premise that it is can be attributed to family history. 

What Does the Bracing Treatment Option for Clubfoot Entail?

All Clubfoot treatments have one mission: to achieve normal function in the feet where the soles are firmly on the ground and your child is able to stand, walk and run freely without difficulty. This can be implemented through non-surgical methods such as stretching, casting, and bracing. 

Our Pediatric Orthopedic Doctors in Brandon and Riverview, Tampa may begin with an initial treatment of stretching and casting, known as the Ponseti method. This method is widely used in North America and is known to show results when started early. The casts are applied on the whole leg in the right position so as to gently stretch the leg into place. The stretching and repositioning will be repeated on a weekly basis over a course of 6 - 8 weeks until improvements are noticed. 

After successful stretching and casting, the Orthopedic Doctors may recommend a brace as clubfoot tends to recur. To ensure a permanent fix, your baby will need to wear a brace for a few years. The brace is meant to keep the foot firmly in place in the correct position and angle. The brace is a long-term treatment plan that requires dedication and demands commitment from you as a parent. This can be demanding but the final goal of your child walking and living a normal life should be enough to keep you going through the challenging parts of maintaining the brace. 

It is recommended that a schedule be put in place for the best results. the schedule should be followed to the tiniest detail: 

• For the first 3 months: your child must wear a brace full time, 23 hours with a 1-hour break each day. 

• The doctor will gradually decrease the time in the brace to about 12-14 hours a day. 

• The regimen must be followed for up to 3 - 4 years.

Please note that your child may need time to adjust to the brace. Braces come in different forms, from shoes, sandals, or custom-made footwear and the bar holding them together may be solid or dynamic. The doctor will determine the right brace for your child.  

What Will Happen If You Don’t Get Clubfoot Treatment For Your Child? 

Whether Isolated or Non-Isolated, treatment is the only recourse for the improvement of clubfoot. Should you opt to let your child ‘grow out of it then your child may: 

• walk on the outer edge of the foot instead of the sole,

• develop calluses that are painful

• not have the ability to wear shoes

• be restricted to limited activity

• have a serious disability

What Can You Expect From Clubfoot Treatment? 

Once you have made the wise and loving choice to get your child on a treatment plan to correct clubfoot then the future is bright for your little one. You and your child can take a journey together ending with your child being able to run and play with friends unfettered. 

What Role Can You Play In Your Child’s Clubfoot Treatment? 

Your role as a parent is essential in the healing journey of your child from clubfoot. It’s important to follow the doctor’s instructions when applying the braces and sticking to the specific times and guidelines. This requires some training, experience, and practice. It is equally as important to keep a watchful eye on your child’s progress.

Relapses have been known to happen despite proper bracing, although this occurs in only a small percentage of children with clubfoot. So take note of any changes to institute timely and proper intervention. 

Call your child’s doctor if you notice your child’s foot slipping out of the boot regularly. This may be a sign of a recurrence but if caught in time, it can be corrected by more casts and sometimes minor surgery.

For A Detailed Treatment Plan For Clubfoot, Speak to Our Leading Pediatric Orthopedic Doctors in Brandon and Tampa, Florida.

We’re a friendly pediatric team based in Brandon and Tampa, Florida, and we’re pros at dealing with clubfoot. If your child has a foot deformity and needs to see a medical professional, get in touch with us.

At POBAR, we take your child’s health seriously and offer an incredibly high standard of care and knowledge. Ready to speak to one of our caring doctors? Book an appointment today!