Clubfoot is a congenital condition that affects the muscles and bones of the feet, which must be corrected in time. This pathology affects approximately 1 in every 1,000 births. In this post we tell you everything you need to know about this pathology, such as its typology, causes, symptoms and treatment.
What is club foot?
Club foot, also known by other names such as “club foot” or “bot foot,” is an anomaly that affects the muscles and bones of the foot. Clubfoot originates downward and inward, so that its plant is also curved inwards.
This malformation is present from the moment of birth, so that the tissues that connect the muscles and bones of the foot are shorter than usual.
It is a common pathology, and in most cases, it is present in both feet. Furthermore, most cases occur in male babies.
Types of clubfoot
There are three types of clubfoot:
- Postural clubfoot. This type can be placed with a simple manipulation, so it is a flexible type.
- Genetic or idiopathic clubfoot. It is the most common deformity in children, characterized by rigidity of the foot.
- Clubfoot related to neurological disorders. The latter is usually the most serious, which is why it is often difficult to treat, in addition to presenting more unfavorable results.
Symptoms of clubfoot
On the one hand, the extremities of the calf muscles are poorly developed.
As mentioned above, the affected leg or foot appears shorter. It is possible that the foot was turned so much that it could be seen upside down.
What is characteristic of this anomaly is that it does not present any discomfort or pain.
Causes of club foot
On the one hand, there are theories that explain that the club foot is due to a genetic cause, due to the lack of space for the formation of the fetus during pregnancy, or due to an arrest in the growth of the foot.
Trisomy 18 is one of the main causes of this, so it occurs as part of a genetic syndrome.
Arthrogryposis could be another of its causes, that is, when the baby has a decrease in mobility in one of its joints while it is in the mother's womb.
On the other hand, there are unknown or idiopathic causes of the appearance of clubfoot. These occur in 90% of cases.
Diagnosis and treatment of clubfoot
To detect a deformity in the foot and observe if clubfoot exists before birth, the ultrasound during week 20 of pregnancy Is the most usual way.
It is important to detect it in time, since the treatment of clubfoot may affect the ability of babies to walk, causing them to walk in an uncomfortable manner, causing blisters and calluses on the sole of the foot.
Furthermore, not treating it will increase the risk of suffering from arthritis.
The standard method is Ponseti method. This treatment consists of gently moving the foot to its natural position, placing a cast for a week. This method is repeated the following week and lasts between 5 and 8 weeks, so surgery is not necessary.
Once the foot is in the correct position, which has been manipulated using the cast, an orthopedic abduction splint is placed.
Likewise, to prevent the appearance of clubfoot again, it is recommended to wear special boots throughout the day, so that this position can be maintained. Little by little, these boots will only be included at night.
Surgical treatment for clubfoot
The surgical technique will depend on the severity of the pathology and the age of the child. In these cases, surgery will be performed to correct a congenital defect of the foot and ankle.
The intervention consists of elongation of Achilles tendon. With minimal skin incisions on the back of the foot, this area can be accessed.
In more advanced cases, specialists in the treatment of clubfoot may cut a part of the bone, so it will be necessary to place nails in it.
After surgery, the patient will be able to go home that same day of the intervention. In addition, verification and control by the doctor will be necessary so that he can determine that there is an improvement in the patient.
As you already know, timely treatment of a clubfoot deformity is important, so the presence of said anomaly should be checked during pregnancy. Depending on the surgery, the patient will be able to go home the same day as the intervention, since it is not a very painful condition. At Elegadi Traumatology we put at your disposal specialist traumatologists in Madrid for the most accurate treatment of trauma injuries and pathologies.
42 thoughts on “El pie zambo, una anomalía frecuente en bebés”
My son was born with clubfeet.
Three months later he had his Achilles tendon estimated.
Since he was very small, he now walks on his heel where calluses form that cannot be removed because it protects him.
It was 36 years ago.
It could get better?
Good morning M. Jesús,
Thank you very much for commenting on the blog. We are sorry for your son's pathology. In this case, we recommend that your child consult with an expert traumatologist so that they can diagnose the pathology and determine the most appropriate treatment for their case. You can contact the team specialist traumatologists from Elgeadi Traumatology in the link provided.
All the best.
good afternoon
My wife is 23 weeks pregnant.
Yesterday he had the ultrasound and it came out that his left foot was wrong.
I want to know if something can be done as soon as it is born and if it would be very expensive per eps
Hello camilo,
We would have to assess the degree of injury. I recommend consulting with childhood trauma but a priori, you would have to see what type of injury it is.
All the best.
If it can be solved from the second day after the baby is born, a child traumatologist can correct the foot with plastic casts, every 15 days the cast is changed, after three months the Achilles tendon is operated on to achieve the correct shape of the foot and They continue with the cast for another month, then it is removed and therapies are performed on their feet, legs or hips so that they can walk normally. Blessings
Thank you very much Angela for completing the information with your evaluations.
Hello… My nephew has gone through the process of plaster casts and surgery on his Achilles tendon and is now undergoing treatment with special boots which he will have to wear until he is 5 years old…
It has been very difficult but something wonderful is that after crawling during his breaks without the boots he now wants to try to walk… Encouragement to all the people who are in this situation, everything moves forward, let's not lose faith!… Greetings
Hello, my grandson was also born with this condition. Fortunately, three days after birth, he was taken to the Morelos Children's Hospital to begin treatment. It was exactly the same as the previous comment. The boy is now one year and two months old and is already starting to walk, although he still uses his scooter at certain times. Very appropriate therapy and care at that hospital.
Hello Camilo, my son was also born with his left equinus varus foot, the first few months they put him in casts, at 4 months he had his Achilles tendon stretched, they sent him orthopedic shoes and two years later they operated on him again, in no surgery did I have to pay, for On the one hand, there is a law that protects all babies under one year old from paying a single peso. First they operated on him at the San Juan de Dios hospital in Rionegro and then at the Noel clinic in Medellín and they did not charge me anything.
Good morning, at the 20-week ultrasound, my baby was not diagnosed with any problems, but a week ago, at 36 weeks pregnant, the doctor told me that there is a possibility that I have this type of foot, although he also told me that it could be the position that the baby adopts already due to the advanced stage of pregnancy, there is another way to know before birth.
Hello Jennifer,
That has to be followed by the neonatologist.
A hug.
I was born with both feet with this condition. I am now 23 years old. I had the surgical treatment when I was a baby. Before, I used to ride a bike a lot and walk more, but now that I have gained a little weight, my knees bother me more when I run and my knees hurt a lot more. feet is due to the condition? Is it usually solved by being thinner? (before I weighed 110 lbs now 160)
Hi sweetie,
Obviously weight has a huge influence on all pathologies involving the lower limbs.
A hug.
Hello, very good information, it is worth highlighting that with clubfoot, the casts are changed every 8 days, that after the Achilles tendon is cut, you wear a cast for fifteen days and then you use the abduction splints, which sends them to you 24/7 about months and then only at night since they will maintain the correct posture.
Thank you very much for your contribution Yislena.
My son is 5 years old and has a shortened Achilles tendon, which is why he walks on his toes, but sometimes if we reminded him that he had to lower his heel and he would do it later, do it right now. He is undergoing treatment and they put a series of casts on him each time. week it is changed and a new one is added, the child now flexes 90° and his foot moves forward. Do you think surgery is necessary???????
Hi Brenda,
Surgical intervention depends on the severity of the case. Therefore, the specialist who is monitoring the case and has access to the medical history will be able to make the recommendation.
Greetings.
Hello, in week 20 I had a detailed anatomical ultrasound where the doctor found unilateral clubfoot and a hyperechogenic cardiac focus in the left ventricle, which sent me fish amniocentesis for chromosomes 13, 18, 21 and sex in a sample of amniotic fluid and a fetal karyotype in a sample of amniotic fluid which came out normal, could someone explain to me what it is, what the result means, thank you
Hello Noris,
As for clubfoot, the most important thing is to detect it early so that it can be treated when the baby is born.
As for the rest of the studies, if all the normal parameters came back, you should not worry. It is best that your specialist doctor answers all your questions (since he is the one who knows your medical history in detail).
Greetings.
Good afternoon, I was born with club feet as a baby, I had 3 surgeries, I am currently 49 years old, my feet hurt a lot, they swell, I also get cavities in specific parts of my foot which causes pain when walking, another in the ankle. My left foot hurts, this foot got bigger as the years went by. I would like to know if something can be done to make the pain more manageable and avoid these falls.
Hello Martha,
We would need to review your case in consultation to be able to give you an appropriate diagnosis and treatments.
You can make your appointment by calling +34 910 053 900.
Greetings.
Hello, good afternoon, today I went to my 23-week ultrasound, they told me that my baby comes with equinovarus, the midwife told me that it could be her. Position of the baby What I want to know is how to know exactly if he has this condition or if it is possible for his feet to return to normal during pregnancy
Hi loneliness,
If you have this condition, it cannot change during pregnancy. It can only happen, as your midwife said, that the diagnosis is not correct. In any case, the most important thing in these cases is to have the information as soon as possible to be able to treat the newborn baby and not have to resort to surgical interventions.
Greetings
Hello, my name is Juan Ignacio,
I was born with bilateral clubfoot 36 years ago. I had surgery with the Ponzetti method and I can have an almost normal life; Since now that I am a little older, I can no longer do some sports like soccer due to the pain in my feet and ankles. My question was whether there is any treatment to detect and prevent the baby from being born with this anomaly during the formation of the fetus?
Thanks in advance,
Greetings
Hello Juan Ignacio,
It can be detected at approximately week 20 of pregnancy and can be treated once the baby is born.
Greetings.
Hello, 19 days ago I had my twin girls and they both have clubfoot.
2 pediatricians and a general practitioner told me that it is only due to the position and lack of space they had in the belly but that it can be corrected with massages.
Anyway, I have my doubts, should I continue looking for more specialized opinions or should I stick with those options?… thank you!
Hello Marlen,
It is essential to treat this pathology as soon as possible, so yes. We recommend that you seek more than one opinion.
Greetings
Hello, my baby was born on December 18, 2023 with both club feet and he has not been treated. He has an appointment for January 26, 2024 with the traumatologist. What happens if I am not treated in time or what can I do in those cases?
Hello Fernanda,
In these cases, the sooner it is treated, the more chances of a complete recovery you have.
It is generally diagnosed during pregnancy and treated from the first day. If they have not done so, we recommend that you try to bring forward the appointment and ask your doctor why they have not done so.
Greetings
Hello, good afternoon; One question, look what's happening: my baby was born with left clubfoot; It was corrected in time, in fact we are using the Denis Brown bar; and until then everything is fine, I only have one more doubt, when placing it upright; The right foot opens a little, is this normal, or should it be corrected as well? I very much appreciate the attention given.
Hello Nancy,
To tell you something, we would have to see your son in consultation and perform a physical examination.
You can make an appointment by calling 91 005 39 00
Greetings
Hello good morning.
My 13 year old son had 2 surgeries when he was little but still steps on his side a little. Can this be corrected with therapy?
Hello Yessica,
It would be necessary to study the case, see the degree it has and define if surgery is necessary.
Greetings
Hello, my 2nd son was born with both clubfeet, this was 30 years ago. He had 3 operations, thank God he walked normally at 5 years old after a long process of casts, boots, bars, operations and even nails. But he learned to walk with his deformed feet at about a year and he ran and did everything like that. This was a difficult and long process but you have to take into account that this was a long time ago, perhaps the treatments have changed. What I must say is that my son suffers from constant pain in his feet and the doctors tell him that it is a normal process due to his condition. I have had 4 children and he is the only one born with clubfeet. There is no one in the family with the condition.
Hello, my grandson is 1 year and 2 months old and during pregnancy they never told him that he would have dysplasia of both hips. I have been undergoing treatment with a harness and splint but to date the left hip has not corrected itself to 100%.
Also, now that he is trying to stand up, we notice that his left foot is turning inward. We are from the state of Puebla. Please tell me what we should do with the baby?
I appreciate your attention and response.
Hello Sabina,
This is a complex case that must be attended to in person to know the details. Our specialized clinic is located in Madrid, although you can contact us to request a video consultation by writing to [email protected]
Don't wait to seek help from a specialist.
Greetings
Hello. I am 47 years old and due to a serious accident I have clubfoot. In addition, I suffer from numbness in my entire leg and foot, which is gradually improving with rehabilitation and exercise. The Social Security traumatologist who was in charge of my case requested an electromyogram, but it has been 4 months now and I am assured that it is usually delayed up to a year. As I am suffering from the limited progress in improving the symptoms, I have decided to go for a test in the private health system. At the moment they have not given me a date yet.
I would like to know if this test will help me, if I can speed up the deadlines, or if it is better to wait for the Social Security and continue with the exercise. Thank you and best regards.
Hi Carlos,
The more information you have, the better you can define your treatment. So the sooner you can get tested, the better.
Greetings
Hello, my 2-year-old son has his feet turned inward and his legs are slightly bent, but this condition occurred when he was 7 months old, when he was trying to stand up. What can be done?
Hi Noemi. In many cases, alterations in the position of the feet or legs in young children can be part of normal development, since their musculoskeletal system is still developing. However, it is essential to carry out a personalized evaluation to determine if it is a condition that requires treatment.
We recommend that you schedule an appointment with our specialists so that they can assess your child in detail. This way, they can offer you an accurate diagnosis and, if necessary, prescribe the appropriate treatment to promote their development.
I was born with both feet with this condition, I am now 24 years old, I had surgery when I was a baby, twice on one foot and only once on the other, I have had therapies since I was little and I have used orthopedic boots, they did leaks on me when I was 19, but now I have been in pain for two years and even cramps come more often, I have had 3 occasions where they hurt so much that I can't move my feet, and before I could only walk at least 8 blocks, now it is more difficult for me to walk those 8 blocks, I exercise and everything because I know I can't gain weight, I have limited myself all my life from doing sports that I can't because of my condition, the last consultation I had they told me that if I had surgery again I wouldn't walk well, I am looking for other opinions, thanks, greetings
Hello Natalia,
We understand your concern and the impact these symptoms have had on your life. Given your history of surgeries, therapies and treatments, it is essential that a specialist thoroughly evaluate your entire medical history to determine the best approach for your case.
Increased pain and difficulty walking may be related to multiple factors, so a complete evaluation will allow defining the most appropriate treatment, whether conservative or with other alternatives.
If you would like our specialists to review your case and offer you more precise guidance, you can schedule an appointment by calling +34 91 005 39 00.
Greetings.