You're Not Alone
If you or your child has clubfoot, you are not alone. Worldwide, roughly 1.2 people per 1000 are born with clubfoot. This means that in the United States alone, 10 babies are born with clubfeet every day.
Causes
If you are a parent, you may be feeling any combination of shock, denial, guilt, and fear. This is all very normal. Take a deep breath and realize that none of this is the fault of you or your partner. And of the multitude of birth defects that could happen to your baby, this one has hope! This one is completely treatable!
Treatment
The Ponseti Method of treatment for clubfoot is minimally invasive and 95% effective. You can read details about the process on this website. As a quick overview, treatment involves the gentle manipulation of the child's foot and the application of toe-to-groin plaster casts. In each session, the ligaments and tendons of the foot are gently stretched and then a cast is applied to keep the foot in its new corrected position. The sessions are repeated every 4-7 days, and gradually, the displaced bones and taut ligaments are brought back into alignment. Generally 5-6 sessions will be required to obtain a correction. Before applying the last plaster cast the heel cord is often clipped to complete the correction and by the time the cast is removed 2-3 weeks later, the tendon has regenerated to proper length and strength. In order to prevent relapse, the child will be fitted with a brace consisting of a bar with high top, open-toed shoes attached to it. The child will need to wear this brace full-time for the first 2-3 months and then when the child sleeps at night and nap time for ~4 years.
Another informative publication is Clubfoot: Ponseti Management (also known as the Red Ponseti Book) produced by Global-HELP Publications. This is a shorter version of the above manual and it has translations in multiple languages. Visit our Publications page for more information.
Parents of Older Children
For many years, many Ponseti trained doctors were unsure about the effectiveness of the Ponseti Method for treatment of children 2 and older. However, recent research has shown that this method can be effective for children with neglected clubfoot and children who have had failed surgery. The oldest child successfully treated with the Ponseti method for failed surgery was 10 at the time of treatment. Ponseti trained doctors have now treated dozens of older children. Listed below are some modifications of the Ponseti method for older children as well as other information to be aware of.If you have a child 2 years of age or older with neglected clubfoot or failed surgery, talk to your orthopedic surgeon about what might be different about the Ponseti Method treatment they may receive.
Important information to be aware of:
According to research done by several Ponseti trained physicians the average number of casts for older children is about 10. The doctor should also spend more time manipulating the foot during visits (about five to ten minutes) to allow for greater stretching of the soft tissue. Each cast needs to be worn for a longer period (about two weeks) than for younger children. Because there will be some side effects of long periods of casting, it is advisable to allow the child to walk on the cast and also in each visit to the clinic after the cast is removed. This will reduce stiffness and muscle atrophy.
The doctor will also correct the foot to 30 to 40 degrees abduction (30 to 40 degrees away from the midline of the body) as opposed to 70 degrees for younger children. This does not limit the effectiveness of the Ponseti Method for treatment of older children.
After treatment, all children need to wear a brace to prevent relapses. A brace is kind of like a retainer for your foot; it keeps the foot from turning back inward. In general, it is used as in younger kids until the age of 4 years. After that age, some doctors will recommend a muscle transfer to balance the foot, therefore, allowing not using the brace.
Physical therapy is a very important tool used to help older children maintain correction as it helps improve muscle strength. Ask your doctor about where to find physical therapists in your area.
Clubfoot FAQ's
What is clubfoot?
Clubfoot is a congenital deformity of the foot that occurs in about 200,000 babies each year worldwide. Clubfoot results from the abnormal development of the muscles, tendons, and bones in the foot while the fetus is forming during pregnancy. While researchers have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of clubfoot, both genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role. Clubfoot is about twice as common in boys and occurs in both feet about 50% of the time. Clubfoot in an otherwise normal child can be corrected using the Ponseti Method of manipulation and plaster cast applications, with minimal or no surgery. Treatment should begin in the first week or two of life in order to take advantage of the elasticity of the tissues that form the ligaments and tendons in the foot.
What is the incidence of clubfoot in developing countries?
80% of clubfoot cases occur in developing countries and most of these children are either left untreated or receive substandard care. Neglected clubfoot is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability worldwide. The Ponseti Method is uniquely suited for use in these countries because there is no surgery required and the technique can be taught to therapists, orthopaedic assistants, and other health care providers. This treatment is economical and easy on the infant, and when implemented correctly, will significantly increase the quality of life among children with clubfoot.
Does surgery "cure" clubfoot?
Surgery does not "cure" clubfoot. It improves the appearance of the foot but diminished the strength of the muscles in the foot and leg, causes stiffness in the second and third decade of life, if not earlier, limits the motions of the foot joints, and the foot becomes often painful at midlife. Surgery does not prevent the recurrence of the deformity in a number of cases. To our knowledge no followup studies of operated patients older than 16 years of age has been published to date. Therefore, orthopaedic surgeons are ignorant of the results of their surgeries.
Foot and ankle surgeons, however, who treat adult patients have noticed that those surgically treated for congenital clubfoot in infancy have weak, stiff and often very painful feet.
How long has clubfoot been treated in this manner?
Clubfeet have been treated with manipulations, bandages, braces, and plaster casts for centuries. The practice of heel-cord tenotomy was started in the middle of the 19th century; extensive ligament release surgery has become the fashion in the past 50 years.
When should a baby with clubfoot begin the Ponseti Method?
When a baby is born with clubfeet, a provider (orthopaedic surgeon, podiatrist, physiotherapist, nurse) with expertise in the manipulation and plaster-cast method devised by Dr. Ponseti, should be sought to start correcting the deformity soon after birth, (7-10 days). Many cases are diagnosed in utero through ultrasound, giving parents time to locate a qualified provider and devise a treatment plan.
How often do the manipulations need to take place to correct clubfoot in otherwise normal children?
Most clubfeet in otherwise normal children can be corrected with manipulations every 5 to 7 days followed by plaster-cast applications. If the deformity is not corrected in 5 to 7 plaster-cast changes, the treatment is most likely faulty. Exceptions to these norms are complex clubfeet.
What is the future of children with clubfoot?
Babies treated using the Ponseti Method will have normal looking feet, with good mobility and function throughout life. The long term outcomes from this method have far exceeded those of surgical treatments. Patients treated surgically may require multiple surgeries, develop stiffness, pain, and other physical disabilities by the age of 30.
Will my child be able to play sports?
Follow-up studies of clubfoot patients treated using the Ponseti Method show that children and adults with corrected clubfoot may participate in athletics like anyone else. In fact, there are several well-known athletes that were successfully treated for clubfoot as infants including Troy Aikman (former Dallas Cowboys quarterback), Mia Hamm (professional soccer player), and Kristi Yamaguchi (figure skating gold medalist).
What is metatarsus varus or metatarsus adductus?
A foot deformity called metatarsus varus or metatarsus adductus is often confused with the clubfoot deformity. The metatarsus adductus is a mild turning in of the foot which often corrects by itself. The heel is never in equinus (unyielding plantar flexion). In more severe cases it can be easily corrected with two to three plaster-cast applications. Some doctors believe they have corrected clubfeet when they have corrected metatarsus adductus.
What is the manipulative treatment of clubfoot deformity based on?
The manipulative treatment of clubfoot deformity is based on the inherent properties of the connective tissue, cartilage, and bone, which respond to the proper mechanical stimuli created by the gradual reduction of the deformity. The ligaments, joint capsules, and tendons are stretched under gentle manipulations. A plaster cast is applied after each manipulation to retain the degree of correction and soften the ligaments. The displaced bones are thus gradually brought into the correct alignment with their joint surfaces progressively remodeled yet maintaining congruency. After two months of manipulation and casting the foot appears slightly overcorrected After a few weeks in splints however, the foot looks normal.
Proper foot manipulations require a thorough understanding of the anatomy and kinematics of the normal foot and of the deviations of the tarsal bones in the clubfoot. Poorly conducted manipulations will further complicate the clubfoot deformity. The non-operative treatment will succeed better if it is started a few days or weeks after birth and if the orthopaedist understands the nature of the deformity and possesses manipulative skill and expertise in plaster-cast applications.
What does a foot look like in an adult born with unilateral clubfoot deformities that was treated with the Ponseti Method?
In all the patients with unilateral clubfoot, the normal foot was slightly longer (mean 1.3 cm) and wider (mean 0.4 cm) than the clubfoot. The limb lengths, on the other hand, were the same, but the circumference of the leg on the normal side was greater (mean 2.3 cm).
What is the incidence of clubfeet in children where one or two parents are also affected?
When one parent is affected with clubfoot, there is a three to four percent chance that the offspring will also be affected. However, when both parents are affected, the offspring have a 15% chance of developing clubfoot.
Where can I find more information about the Ponseti Method?
Please visit our publications page for books and support of the Ponseti method