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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffBecause your newborn's bones and joints are extremely flexible, treatment for clubfoot usually begins soon after birth. The goal of treatment is to restore the look and function of the foot before your child learns to walk, in hopes of preventing long-term disabilities. Treatment options include:
- Stretching and casting (Ponseti method). This entails manipulating the foot into a correct position and casting it to maintain that position. Repositioning and recasting occurs every week for several weeks. After the shape of the foot is realigned, it's maintained through stretching exercises, special shoes or splinting at night for up to two years. For this method to work effectively, you'll need to apply your child's braces according to your doctor's specifications so that the foot doesn't return to its original position.
- Surgery. Some severe cases of clubfoot may require surgery, generally when your baby is 9 to 12 months of age. In especially severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery when your infant is as young as 3 months of age. An orthopedic surgeon can lengthen tendons to help ease the foot into a more appropriate position. After surgery, your child will need to wear a brace for a year or so to prevent recurrence of the deformities.
Even with treatment, the defect may not be totally correctable, but treatment usually improves the appearance and function of the foot. In most cases, treatment is successful when clubfoot is an isolated deformity.
- Clubfoot. American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00255. Accessed July 21, 2008.
- Chen RC, et al. A new dynamic foot abduction orthosis for clubfoot treatment. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 2007;27(5):522-528.
- Edmondson MC, et al. Long-term follow-up of the surgically corrected clubfoot. Journal of Pediatric Orthpaedics. 2007;16(3):204-208.
- Macnicol, MF, et al. Changing concepts in the management of congenital talipes equinovarus. Paediatrics and Child Health. 2008;18(6):272-277.
- Siapkara A, et al. Congenital talipes equinovarus: A review of current management. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2007;89(8):995-1000.
- Sud A, et al. Ponseti's vs. Kite's method in the treatment of clubfoot - A prospective randomized study. International Orthopaedics. 2008;32(3):409-413.
- Hoecker J (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. August 7, 2008.
