Clubfoot Clinic

Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is turned down and inward because the muscles and tendons of the lower leg aren't normal and are tight. As a result, the foot is held in an abnormal position, with the top facing down. Clubfoot can affect one or both feet and ranges from mild to very severe.

Early on, clubfoot isn't painful, but without treatment, it can seriously impair a child's ability to walk and run. It is usually diagnosed before birth on ultrasound or after the baby is delivered and a physical examination is performed, at which point your child's doctor may refer you to the Clubfoot Clinic for evaluation and treatment.

The standard treatment for clubfoot is a technique called the Ponseti Method, which gradually rotates the foot through stretching it and applying casts each week until the foot reaches a normal position. Most children then need a minor surgical procedure in which the Achilles tendon is cut so that it will allow the foot to achieve a walkable position. A brace is then used for the first few years of life to maintain the foot in the corrected position.

It's best to start the treatment as early as possible, ideally in the first month or so after birth. In the initial phase, lasting about five to eight weeks, a new cast is placed on the affected leg every week. With each cast change, the clinician stretches the foot and rotates it into a better position. Most children then have the small surgery where the Achilles tendon is released. The foot is then casted for an additional three weeks while the tendon heals in an elongated position.

In the next phase, your baby is fitted with special braces that hold the feet apart in a turned-out position. The braces are worn full-time until children start pulling themselves up to stand. At that point, they wear the braces only overnight and during naps until about age 4.

Some children have recurrences and need to spend more time wearing braces or undergo additional surgery. Most children who receive timely treatment grow up to have normally functioning feet that let them stand, walk, run and play.

We recognize that putting your baby through medical treatment can be stressful. As specialists in pediatric orthopedics, the Clubfoot Clinic team understands the physical and emotional needs of babies and young children. Our orthopedic surgeons, clinical nurse specialist, physician assistants and cast technicians work closely together to provide your child with excellent care. Our clinicians work with an orthotist (a specialist in fitting medical devices) to determine which braces will work best for your child. We are dedicated to supporting you and your child through the treatment process. Even after the treatment concludes, we will continue monitoring your child until fully grown to make sure the problem doesn't reoccur.