Clubfoot Symptoms In Children

Clubfoot in children is a birth defect wherein an infant’s foot gets twisted. It may turn sideways with toes bent at an abnormal angle or have an odd shape, which is pointed in the wrong direction, and appear curved, or even upside down.

What Is Clubfoot?

Clubfoot is the most common birth defect in the muscles and bones of the feet in children. Instead of being straight, the clubfoot points down and turn inward so that the toes are facing towards the opposite leg. This condition therefore affects one or both feet at birth. While clubfoot is not painful in the beginning, it can cause major complications when the child comes to the age of standing and walking. If it remains untreated, it can cause severe difficulties and might even cause one to not be able to walk at all in the later stages. Therefore, its correction is very important and should be done ideally within a week or two weeks of the infant’s birth date.

Does Clubfoot Hurt?

No, clubfoot does not hurt your baby. However, if it is left untreated, your child may:

Be able to walk only with difficulty

End up developing painful calluses.

Be unable to wear shoes

Have pain when walking and the soreness may limit their activity

Types of clubfoot in children

Idiopathic Clubfoot

The idiopathic clubfoot, otherwise known as talipes equinovarus, is the most frequent type of clubfoot and is present at birth. This congenital condition is seen in about 1 in every 1,000 babies, of which half are cases involving one foot.

Idiopathic clubfoot has an unknown cause, though it is more common in baby boys than in girls; the disorder is twice as likely to occur in baby boys.

Neurogenic Clubfoot

Neurogenic clubfoot occurs due to some underlying neurological condition. For instance, a child may have spina bifida and develop clubfoot or otherwise during childhood due to cerebral palsy or compression of the spinal cord.

Syndromic Clubfoot

This occurs simultaneously with other clinical conditions that occur as part of an underlying syndrome. Examples are arthrogryposis, constriction band syndrome, tibial hemimelia, and diastrophic dwarfism.

What are the causes of Clubfoot in children?

Clubfoot Types, Symptoms & Treatment in Children India, Hyderabad

The exact cause of clubfoot in children is often unknown. It is more frequent among boys and can run in families. Typically, a baby with clubfoot has no other medical issues. The most common time to identify clubfoot is either antenatally by ultrasound at approximately the 20th week of pregnancy or at birth.

Although some evidence points to a genetic link—meaning it does tend to run in families—if you have one child with clubfoot, then the next child has a higher chance of having it too.

Research also shows that it is more common in babies whose mothers smoked or used recreational drugs during pregnancy, especially if there is already a family history of it. Furthermore, low amniotic fluid, which cushions the baby in the womb, might be connected to clubfoot.

If you’re pregnant and clubfoot runs in your family, you may want to talk with a genetic counselor. They can help you understand your baby’s risk of clubfoot.

Symptoms of Clubfoot in babies

The signs and symptoms of clubfoot in babies vary but are typically pretty easy for a doctor to spot. If you’re a first-time parent, or if the condition isn’t that severe, clubfoot might be harder to recognize.

Common symptoms include:

• A foot that turns inward and downward, with the toes pointing toward the opposite foot.
• One foot, heel and calf muscle may be smaller compared to the other.
• In severe cases, the foot may turn upside down.

How is clubfoot diagnosed in children?

Clubfoot is usually diagnosed after birth. One of the most useful indicators is the appearance of the baby’s foot. While a doctor can diagnose the condition by simply looking at it, a doctor may advise an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis.

It’s also possible to diagnose clubfoot during pregnancy. An ultrasound is a standard test that checks the baby’s growth and development during pregnancy. However, if clubfoot is diagnosed prenatally, treatment can’t start until after the baby is born.

What is the Treatment for Clubfoot in children?

Clubfoot in children will not straighten on its own. On the other hand, doctors no longer do surgery.

The Ponseti method consists of a series of casts, gentle movements and stretches, and a brace that gradually repositions the foot.

An orthopedic surgeon trained in the Ponseti method will treat your baby.

There are two phases of treatment: casting and bracing.

Casting: This is started a week or two after birth. A new cast is put on the baby every week. Each cast slightly repositions the foot. Usually, 5 to 7 casts are put on within a few weeks or months.

Bracing: Following successful repositioning of the foot, the cast is replaced by a bracing system. The brace, typically an L-shaped bar attached to special shoes or boots, keeps the foot from reverting back to its original position. Initially, the brace is worn at all times, except for bathing, for 3 months, then only at night and during naps for several years. Most children become accustomed to the brace within a day or two.

Surgery

 In severe conditions, however, surgical intervention is the best solution. An orthopedic surgeon will lengthen the tendons in the foot; he might also need to adjust the bones and joints. After the surgery, your baby will most probably be in a cast for many months.

Subsequently, after the cast is taken off, the doctor might prescribe special shoes with a brace. In some, clubfoot may not be fully correctable, however with proper treatment, most babies with clubfoot can lead active lives.

Recovery

Following corrective surgery for clubfoot, it is usual to stay in the hospital for up to three days. Elevating your child’s leg with the cast on top of it will help minimize swelling, and your child may be asked to wiggle their toes to make sure that there is adequate blood flow to the foot.

Casting is an important part of healing. He will be in a cast for up to as long as three months. This will enable the incisions to heal and the tendons and bones to heal. The casts are more than likely going to have to be replaced several times, as they can get wet, stretched out, or even worn out from the rapid growth of infants and toddlers.

When the casting process is complete, the foot should now appear more normal and function much better. Physical therapy is essential to the healing process after surgery to correct clubfoot. Exercises to the foot restore flexibility, range of motion, and muscle tone to the leg. Most people with clubfoot have an underdeveloped calf muscle in the affected leg. This is usually smaller, even after surgery, compared to the muscles in the healthy leg.

Can Clubfoot Be Prevented or Avoided?

Since the exact cause of clubfoot is unknown, it cannot be prevented. However, you can probably reduce the risk by avoiding smoking and recreational drugs during pregnancy. Most children with clubfoot participate in numerous different physical activities and are able to lead normal lives with proper treatment.

What Else Should I Know?

Treatment of clubfoot in children can take years, and an untreated clubfoot can cause physical and emotional problems. If you follow through consistently with the recommended treatment plan from the orthopedic surgeon, your child will likely be able to walk, run, and play with their peers without pain. Consider yourself an active partner in your child’s care; don’t hesitate to ask the orthopedic team for advice or to express any of your concerns.

Conclusion

Clubfoot in children can be easily managed if treatment is begun early and maintained continuously. Parents can ensure the child gets proper treatment by understanding the signs, types, and the treatment options of clubfoot. Following the recommendations of an orthopedic surgeon and actively participating in the care of your child will help your child live a healthy and active life. Keep in mind, though, that your child’s treatment might take years, but with dedication, he or she is, most likely, going to walk, run, and play with other children without pain. In case of any doubts, our orthopedic team is always there to help you out.