Why do babies get clubbed feet?
Why do babies get clubbed feet?
It’s when a baby’s foot turns inward so that the bottom of the foot faces sideways or even up. This happens because the tissues that connect muscles to bone (called tendons) in your baby’s leg and foot are shorter than normal. Clubfoot is a common birth defect.
Can you fix a club foot on a baby?
Most of the time, clubfoot can be corrected while your child is a still a baby. Treatment should begin a week or two after birth. Correction methods vary from manual foot manipulation over time to surgically fixing the foot. There is a high success rate for treating clubfoot.
What should I do if my baby has clubfoot?
A baby with clubfoot will be treated by an orthopedic surgeon (a doctor who focuses on conditions of the bones, muscles, and joints) who has been trained in the Ponseti method. If your baby has a clubfoot, make sure that your orthopedic surgeon has had this training.
How do you treat clubfoot?
Most cases of clubfoot are successfully treated with nonsurgical methods that may include a combination of stretching, casting, and bracing. Treatment usually begins shortly after birth.
Can Club foot Be Cured?
If your child has clubfoot, it will make it harder to walk normally, so doctors generally recommend treating it soon after birth. Doctors are usually able to treat clubfoot successfully without surgery, though sometimes children need follow-up surgery later on.
What causes clubfoot in newborns?
Clubfoot happens because the tendons (bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones) and muscles in and around the foot are shorter than they should be. Doctors don’t know what causes it, and there’s no way to ensure that your baby won’t be born with it.
What causes a club foot?
It may be due to a disruption in a neuromuscular pathway, possibly in the brain, the spinal cord, a nerve, or a muscle. Environmental factors may play a role. Research has found a link between the incidence of clubfoot and maternal age, as well as whether the mother smokes cigarettes, and if she has diabetes.
How to treat clubfoot?
The Ponseti method is the most common and effective clubfoot treatment. This treatment uses a series of casts and braces to rotate the baby’s foot into a corrected position. The foot is rotated externally until it is turned out 60-70 degrees.
What causes club feet?
The exact cause of club foot is not known. An abnormality of the tendons and ligaments in the foot causes an abnormal structure and position of the foot. In some children, bones may also be abnormal in terms of shape, size, or position.
