1. Traditional Method of Manipulation and Casting
Clubfoot is a fairly common birth defect that affects approximately 1 in 1,000 newborns. It is usually identified before birth or just after birth, and treatment typically begins soon after. If treatment begins within the first few weeks of your child's life, your child's foot should be returned to normal form and function. The first line of treatment involves manipulating your child's foot into the correct position and casting it. The traditional method for doing this is to address one direction of the foot deformity at a time. For example, if your child's foot is turned inward, treatment will begin with gradually turning the foot outward through repositioning and casting. If your child's foot is also twisted up, that deformity will be addressed in a subsequent round of treatment. This process can take from 2 to 6 months with the foot being repositioned and recast every 1 to 2 weeks. If both of your child's feet are clubbed, as is true for nearly 50 percent of all cases, both feet will be treated at the same time.
2. Ponseti Method of Manipulation and Casting
The Ponseti method of manipulation and casting is similar to the traditional method, with one main difference--this method addresses both the inward deformity and the upward deformity at the same time. Your child's foot will be manipulated into the most normal position possible and then immobilized. Studies have proven this method to be the most successful of the two, and it works for most children with a clubfoot. If the treatment is successful, your child's foot should be working normally before it is needed to learn to walk.
3. Corrective Surgery
If the manipulation and casting treatment is unsuccessful for your child's clubfoot or the foot remains pointing in a upward position after treatment, corrective surgery may be necessary. Typically, this surgery will be focused on releasing tendons and ligaments in your child's foot so that it can be more easily manipulated into the right position. The ankle bones may also be repositioned and held in place with small wires. You child will have to wear a cast immediately following the procedure and a brace to keep the foot in position for a year or more afterwards. In the end, your child should be able to walk and run without disability. Your child's clubfoot may always be a shoe size or more smaller than the other foot, however.
