What is the effect of clubfoot?
What is the effect of clubfoot?
Clubfoot is a common type of birth defect that affects muscles and bones in the feet. Instead of being straight, a clubfoot points down and turns in. This twisting causes the toes to point toward the opposite leg. A baby can be born with the defect in one or both feet.
Does clubfoot affect hip?
Babies born with clubfoot may also have a higher risk for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). This health problem affects the hip joint. The top of the thighbone (femur) slips in and out of the hip socket because the socket is too shallow.
Can clubfoot cause pain?
Clubfoot doesn’t cause pain, but if it’s not treated, it can make it hard for a child to walk without a limp. It’s easy to correct in most cases, so most children don’t have long-lasting effects.
What happens if clubfoot is left untreated?
Regardless of the type or severity, clubfoot will not improve without treatment. A child with an untreated clubfoot will walk on the outer edge of the foot instead of the sole, develop painful calluses, be unable to wear shoes, and have lifelong painful feet that often severely limit activity.
Can Club Foot be corrected?
The well-treated clubfoot is no handicap and is fully compatible with a normal, active life. The majority of clubfeet can be corrected in infancy in about six to eight weeks with the proper gentle manipulations and plaster casts.
What are the signs and symptoms of clubfoot?
Symptoms. The calf muscles in the affected leg are usually underdeveloped. The affected foot may be up to 1/2 inch (about 1 centimeter) shorter than the other foot. Despite its look, however, clubfoot itself doesn’t cause any discomfort or pain.
What are the long term effects of clubfoot in children?
However, if not treated, clubfoot causes more-serious problems. These can include: Arthritis. Your child is likely to develop arthritis. Poor self-image. The unusual appearance of the foot may make your child’s body image a concern during the teen years. Inability to walk normally.
Can clubfoot be caused by birth defects?
In some cases, clubfoot can be associated with other abnormalities of the skeleton that are present at birth (congenital), such as spina bifida, a serious birth defect that occurs when the tissue surrounding the developing spinal cord of a fetus doesn’t close properly. Environment.
How much does clubfoot affect your shoe size?
Shoe size. The affected foot may be up to 1 1/2 shoe sizes smaller than the unaffected foot. Calf size. The muscles of the calf on the affected side may always be smaller than those on the other side. However, if not treated, clubfoot causes more-serious problems. These can include: Arthritis.
