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| State University of New York at Buffalo - Department of Orthopaedics |
| CLUBFOOT (CONGENITAL TALIPES EQUINOVARUS) |
| WHAT IS CLUBFOOT? |
| Clubfoot is a congenital foot abnormality. The heel tilts severely inward and downward, and the heelcord is very tight. If clubfoot is not treated, the person will walk on the outside of the foot. The clubfoot is always smaller than the unaffected (normal) foot. The calf muscle is also smaller on the side of the affected foot. |
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| WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? |
| The exact cause of clubfoot is not known. It cannot be prevented, but it is treatable. You may notice a slight difference with the size of the feet and maybe even with the size of your child's shoes. However, your child should be able to lead a normal life. Your child should still be able to walk, run, and play sports like other children. |
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There are two types of clubfoot: The postural clubfoot is usually a result of positioning in the uterus. This deformity is flexible and the foot can be easily moved to a straight position. This foot can be corrected with serial casting. It generally does not require surgery. The true clubfoot is a rigid deformity that initially cannot be manually corrected to a normal position. With this clubfoot, a deformity of the heel is seen. Unfortunately, most clubfeet are in this category. |
| HOW IS IT TREATED? |
| The goal of treatment of the clubfoot is to have a functional, pain free foot with good mobility. Non surgical treatment is used in the newborns and young infants. This consists of weekly cast changes. |
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Serial Casting After the foot is gently stretched, your doctor will put a cast on the foot. The casts are made of plaster or fiberglass. They are changed weekly. Occasionally, the doctor may release the tight tendon behind the heel at one of the clinic visits. This will help put the foot in the desired position. After the casting is done, your child will wear a special orthosis (brace) for many months. Surgery If the non surgical treatment does not correct the feet, then an operation will be needed. The type of surgery will depend on how much of the deformity has remained. Surgery is done when your child is six to nine months old. After the surgery, your child will wear a cast for two or three months. The cast will need to be changed several times. After the cast is removed, your child will wear a special orthosis (brace) to help maintain the foot correction. Severely involved feet may need future surgeries as your child grows. |
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