Clubfoot Deformity: Can Children Born with Clubfoot Lead Normal Lives?

ctev treatment
This is a Clubfoot Blog
The blog is published by 27 Apr, 2021

Yes. Children born with CTEV can live a normal life. With timely intervention & proper use of a brace under strict guidance, most of the feet can become nearly normal-looking feet. In the future, fully treated CLUB feet wonโ€™t cause any problems. A child will not have any disability. They can run, jump, walk, and wear shoes as they want. They can enjoy their life as per their wish. Less than 5% can have recurrence with modern care but still, this recurrence can also be managed nicely again by the ponsetty technique. If treated right after birth, this condition does not even require surgery for correction.

Its incidence is nearly 1 in 1000 live births. It is a congenital deformity of the foot. In which the newborn feet point medially & downward, with deep medial creases. Deformities can be mild to severe. It can affect one or both feet.ย  Most of the time causes are not known. But sometimes this problem can be a part of a syndrome.

CTEV Treatment starts as a child is born. Very mild & postural ctev can be managed by oil massage at home. But other varieties need manipulation and plaster application. Ponsetty methods of manipulation and plaster application are the universal methods of treatment in ctev. In this method, repeated manipulation & plaster application at 1 week to 10 days intervals are being done in a specific pattern 5-6 times. In the last percutaneous heel card, tenotomy is also required. A child needs to wear an abduction CTEV Brace minimum of 2 years. Constant watch on the progress of foot position is very important. If properly managed, then less than 5% of children will have a recurrence. Recurrence is seen only in very stiff feet. Despite recurrence, early identification and reapplication of the same principle will again manage the recurrence of deformity. With the use of the poinsettia plaster technique, the foot will be supple, painless, and scarless. Results are always good. The rate of complication is much less.

Surgery is rarely needed in CTEV as a supplement to the Ponsetty’s technique of manipulation. Earlier before the use of the ponsetty technique, surgery was the common method of treatment for cerebral palsy but with the success of the plaster technique use of surgeries nowadays is rare.ย  In surgery, tendon lengthening, percutaneous tenotomy, tendon transfer & bone surgery are the common ones.

Parents need to identify it earliest and visit to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon for better treatment. Treatment on the other hand gives good outcomes.

 

Link to complete information on CTEV: https://youtu.be/b-z3P6JDctU

Reference link โ€“

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Introduction_to_Clubfoot

https://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/4062/clubfoot-congenital-talipes-equinovarus

https://www.healthline.com/health/clubfoot#Diagnosing-Clubfoot

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551574/

FAQ’s

Does clubfoot affect the brain?
Clubfoot itself does not directly affect the brain, but untreated clubfoot can lead to mobility issues that may indirectly impact a child's physical and cognitive development. Early treatment is essential to prevent such complications.
What is the success rate of clubfoot treatment?
The success rate of clubfoot treatment is high, with approximately 95% of cases being successfully corrected through non-surgical methods like the Ponseti method, especially when treatment begins early and is consistent.
How long does it take to correct clubfoot?
The correction of clubfoot using the Ponseti method typically takes about 4 to 8 weeks of casting, followed by a few years of brace wear to maintain the correction.
Does clubfoot affect growth?
Untreated clubfoot can potentially affect the growth and development of the affected foot, but with proper treatment, most children can achieve normal growth. Early intervention is key to minimizing growth-related issues.

Reviewed and Submitted by Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain

Last updated on April 27, 2021

Dr.Jitendra Jain, MD and DNB (Orthopedics), president at Trishla Foundation, an NGO for treatment of cerebral palsy, and a Consultant Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon & Cerebral Palsy Specialist at Trishla Orthopedic Clinic & Rehab Center.
Dr. J. K. Jain is a member of the general council at Dr. SMN university of rehabilitation, Lucknow, a member of the advisory board chief commissioner for PWD, Govt. of India (New Delhi), a member of the state disability research committee (U.P.), and a member of the committee of RCI, New Delhi. He has been awarded many awards, including the Dr.Bhagawan das memorial award, the spirit of humanity award, and the state govt. award for his services towards PWD, etc. Times of India has posted his work many times and mentioned him as one of the best doctors in the field of Pediatric Orthopedics. He helped many children recovering from cerebral palsy, just like comedian jay Chanikara, who is now able to stand and walk without any support, Abena, a Ghana girl with cerebral palsy, and many more. He also organized the National Wheelchair cricket tournament and created Worldโ€™s first cerebral palsy village foundation in Prayagraj. He successfully treated 10,000+ children with various kinds of orthopedic disability, conducted 160+ free assessment camps, and produced a documentary film on cerebral palsy.

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