Introduction
- 1 in every 1000 babies is born with a twisted foot or a clubfoot
- The toes may be bent at an angle or the foot is curled sideways
- Additionally, the foot seems to be pointing in the wrong direction and appears crooked
- In other ways, the baby remains healthy
- Furthermore, if a club foot is not treated immediately, it may cause mobility issues in the child as he/she grows
What is clubfoot?
- When bands of tissue or tendons and muscles in the foot are shorter than usual, it results in clubfoot
- Unfortunately, there are no known causes of club foot and therefore, preventive measures cannot be implemented
- However, some causes can be outlined as under:
- According to studies, 2/3rd of the babies born with clubfoot are male
- Babies with a family history of the anomaly
- Lifestyle choices during pregnancy – for instance, smoking, usage of drugs, etc.
- Spina bifida – a birth defect that can lead to clubfoot
- Lack of amniotic fluid during gestation – the fluid that surrounds the baby
Signs
- It is extremely easy to diagnose clubfoot:
- Toes are curled inward
- Foot points downward
- Also, the foot may be upside down or appears to be sideways
- Calf muscles are underdeveloped
- Likewise, the foot is smaller by at least ½ an inch as against the normal foot
- Finally, the foot has a limited range of motion
- A late ultrasound during pregnancy may also be used to diagnose the presence of clubfoot
Treatment
- Specialist surgeons attempt to rectify the baby’s clubfoot almost immediately after its birth
- The idea is to fix the foot before the child can learn to walk
Casting
- Since the child’s tendons are supple and can bend easily, the baby’s foot is gently stretched into a new position
- x-rays may be obtained to ascertain whether the bones are actually moving into the right position
- Furthermore, a special brace or shoe may be recommended to gradually rectify it
Surgery
- When no amount of stretching works, then surgery may be inevitable
- This, if the baby’s tendons are too short to stretch
- After the clubfoot surgery, gradual casting used to fix the foot
- Furthermore, the doctors attempt to fix the foot within six months to a year
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