Club
Foot

Treatment should begin right away to have the best chance for a successful outcome without the need for surgery. A particular method of stretching and casting, known as the Ponseti method, has been responsible for this. With this method, the doctor changes the cast every week for several weeks, always stretching the foot toward the correct position.

Once the foot has been corrected, the infant must wear a brace at night for two years to maintain the correction. There are several versions of these orthoses (braces) that we can measure and apply. They are highly effective but require the parents to participate in the daily care by using the braces actively. Without the parents' participation,  clubfoot will almost certainly recur, and that's because the muscles around the foot can pull it back into the abnormal position.

The goal of this, and any treatment programme, is to make your newborn’s clubfoot (or feet) functional, painless and stable by the time he or she is ready to walk.

(Note: Any time your baby wears a cast, watch for changes in skin colour or temperature that may indicate problems with circulation.)

Surgery may be needed if stretching, casting and bracing are not enough to correct your baby's clubfoot,  to adjust the tendons, ligaments and joints in the foot/ankle. Usually done at nine to twelve months of age, surgery simultaneously corrects all of your baby's clubfoot deformities. After surgery, a cast holds the clubfoot still while it heals. The muscles in your child's foot can return to the clubfoot position, and special shoes or braces may be used for up to a year or more after surgery. Surgery will likely result in a stiffer foot than non-surgical treatment, particularly as the years pass.

Without any treatment, your child's clubfoot will result in severe functional disability. With treatment, your child should have a nearly normal foot, and they can run and play without pain and wear regular shoes. The corrected clubfoot will still not be perfect, however. You should expect it to stay 1 to 1 1/2 sizes smaller and somewhat less mobile than the standard foot. The calf muscles in your child's clubfoot leg will also remain smaller.