Congenital talipes equinovarus is the medical term for clubfoot (CTEV). Both feet may be affected in some cases, while in others, only one foot may be affected. An internal rotation of the ankle is observed in the affected foot. Without treatment, a child will walk on the outside of their feet or ankles. This could result in more severe health problems, such as arthritis or surgery.
CTEV patients can now benefit from various treatment options thanks to advances in medical science. With proper treatment, most clubfoot sufferers can return to their everyday lives. They can walk normally and participate in sports after successful treatment.
Although the condition appears painful, the baby is entirely unaffected by clubfoot. However, once the child can walk, the pain-free experience ends.
Even when examined, an experienced orthopaedist doctor can make a correct diagnosis based on the pathology's symptoms. There are several ways to determine whether a child has a clubfoot:
heel displacement upward; an increase in the foot's arch; a torsion of the shin bones; rapid exhaustion and pain when walking; a swaying, clumsy gait; raised lower and inner-outer edges of the foot; limited mobility and lack of some ankle joint functions. Inflection, curvature in the plantar part of the foot.
A child can't have more than one clinical manifestation of each listed symptom. Clubfoot in children should be diagnosed as soon as possible, as the treatment of foot deformities is more accessiblewhen they are discovered early on. The problem can be treated conservatively without surgery, and the patient can live an everyday life again.
The causes of the problem are categorized according to their source. Children's clubfoot can be acquired or congenital. The pathology of the foot can be seen with ultrasound in the first case,where the disease is diagnosed during the fetal period. Children "outgrow" most acquired infections by the time they reach the age of three or four.
In only 20% of the cases, the exact cause of foot deformity can be pinpointed. Some presumptive causes of congenital clubfoot include amniotic bands, severe toxaemia during pregnancy, water shortage, a fusion of the embryo's body surface with a protective shell (amnion), and the mother's viral infection. Other possible causes include overpressure on pregnant women's muscles, mispositioning, and the use of certain potent drugs during pregnancy.
There are many treatment options available if your child is diagnosed with clubfoot. Treating a patient as soon as possible is the best course of action. It's easier for your paediatric podiatrist to manipulate the bones in an infant because their joints and bones are so flexible.
Clubfoot is a treatable condition thanks to the many medical advances in recent years. The Ponseti method, which entails a series of manipulations followed by casting, is one of the most effective treatments. Olympic champion American gymnast Kristi Yamaguchi was born with CTEV and received treatment via the Ponseti method. Treatment can begin as soon as a week after birth if your child is born with the disorder.
Gentle foot manipulation and casting are used in the Ponseti method. Throughout the week, your child's paediatric podiatrist will gently flex and straighten your child's foot. A new cast is put on for six to eight weeks, and the process is repeated.
The Ponseti method has a 90% success rate when started early and performed by a qualified podiatrist. Surgery may be necessary in cases where the condition is severe enough. Pediatric Foot's Ankle uses the Ponseti method, considered the gold standard by most podiatrists, to treat CTEV.
This technique is the most effective when performed by a licensed podiatrist. The Ponseti Method is regarded as the gold standard in clubfoot treatment.
The doctor only needs to look at the baby's feet to detect whether or not they have clubfoot to catch CTEV in its early stages. To assess the severity of the problem, the doctor may prescribe x-rays.A condition affecting both feet can usually be detected by ultrasound during pregnancy if both feet are affected. Parents may consider treatment options before the baby is born if the condition is discovered early. Clubfoot treatment is more likely to be successful if it is addressed as soon as possible.
Clubfoot, if left untreated, can lead to functional limitations and, eventually, surgery. As a result, if the child receives early treatment, they can walk without any discomfort.
The foot's condition may deteriorate even after treatment if it is postponed. As an illustration, it might not be as mobile as the other foot or be as small (or both). Calf muscles may also be smaller in the child.