Club Foot Management

What is club foot?

Club foot, is a term for the medical condition congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV). It is a congenital deformity involving one foot or both. Clubfoot or Talipes Equinovarus deformity, is one of the most common correctable developmental deformities that affects approximately 150,000 – 200,000 babies worldwide each year (Ponseti International, 2017 . When clubfoot occurs, the foot begins to turn inward and down, and this condition often develops during the second trimester of pregnancy (Ponseti International, 2017 & Clubfoot: Ponseti Management, 2005).The affected foot appears to have been rotated internally at the ankle. The foot points downwards and inwards, with the soles of the feet facing backwards.Without treatment, people with club feet often appear to walk on their ankles or on the sides of their feet.

Existing Therapy & Treatment

While a baby is young, natural flexibility can be utilised to get things back to where they belong. In most cases, the foot will respond well to conservative correction using the Ponseti method which involves manipulation, serial casting and a very small procedure to release the tight Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle.

There follows a long period of maintenance of the corrected position of the feet, traditionally this has been achieved with what is called the boots and bar approach. At CPO we offer a wide range of club foot shoes and custom made corrective orthosis according to patient affordability , sometimes on rental basis