Club Foot
Clubfoot is a deformity in which an infant’s foot is turned inward, often so severely that the bottom of the foot faces sideways or even upward. Approximately one infant in every 1,000 live births will have clubfoot, making it one of the more common congenital (present at birth) foot deformities.
Clubfoot is not painful during infancy. However, if your child’s clubfoot is not treated, the foot will remain deformed, and he or she will not be able to walk normally. With proper treatment, however, the majority of children are able to enjoy a wide range of physical activities with little trace of the deformity.
Most cases of clubfoot are successfully treated with nonsurgical methods that may include a combination of stretching, casting, and bracing. Treatment usually begins shortly after birth.
It is three dimensional deformity of foot involving either one or both feet since birth. The affected foot of a child looks like being rotated internally & downward at the ankle. If left untreated, can cause severe gait abnormality during walking as child walk on outer part of sole and ankle. The child further finds it difficult to place the sole of the foot flat on the surface. Ideally treatment of clubfoot should start as early as possible without delay to avoid major problems as the child grows. Early treatment gives better results.
Cause
The exact cause of clubfoot is still not known (Idiopathic). Other reasons for this could be genetic, position of baby in mother womb, neuromuscular disorders etc. The parents must get the child screened immediately to assess his health condition and identify the exact cause of the congenital deformity. There is no correlation in the deformity and other ritual myths like “GRAHAN”
Symptoms
Deformity is obvious and apparent and can be diagnosed immediately after birth. The most important symptom of clubfeet is the foot looking deformed and twisted like the club of the golf stick. But the child will experience discomfort and find it difficult to walk if clubfoot is not treated properly and timely. The child may find it difficult to wear shoes and participate in physical activities. Sometimes foot size of affected side appears smaller than normal side.
Diagnosis
Clubfoot can be diagnosed even before baby born (antenatal) by Ultrasound. Orthopaedic surgeon detects the deformity after birth by observing the appearance and movement of the baby’s feet and legs.
Treatment
Clubfoot can be treated Non-surgically by serial casting followed by percutaneously done tenotomy with success rate over 90%. Tenotomy is a day care procedure done on OPD basis. After tenotomy child always put on braces for sometimes. In some cases surgery require like relapse, neglected, neuropathic and muscular cause of clubfoot.
Results
Clubfoot can be treated Non-surgically by serial casting followed by percutaneously done tenotomy with success rate over 90%. Tenotomy is a day care procedure done on OPD basis. After tenotomy child always put on braces for sometimes. In some cases surgery require like relapse, neglected, neuropathic and muscular cause of clubfoot.