Congenital Club Foot
What is it?
Congenital clubfoot, also known as talipes equinovarus, is a birth defect that affects the foot and ankle. It is characterized by the foot being turned inward and downward. Clubfoot can occur in one or both feet and can range from mild to severe.
Symptoms
- A visibly turned inward and downward foot
- A smaller calf muscle on the affected side
- Limited mobility of the foot and ankle.Â
Treatment
- Gentle stretching and manipulation of the foot and ankle, followed by casting to maintain the corrected position.
- In some cases, surgery may be required to fully correct the deformity.
- Follow-up care usually involves physical therapy exercises and monitoring as the child grows and develops.Â
Tenotomy
A minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves cutting the Achilles tendon to help correct the deformity. Tenotomy is usually performed in combination with a series of non-surgical treatments such as casting and bracing to achieve the desired correction. During tenotomy, a small incision is made in the skin covering the Achilles tendon, and the surgeon carefully cuts one or two of the tendons to encourage the foot to assume a normal position.
