Clubfoot, a foot deformity at birth, has been a major concern for parents. It can be easily cured through surgical and non-surgical means through early intervention below the age of 2.
With a view to creating awareness among the masses about the timely treatment, the Health Department has opened a special weekly clinic at the District Headquarters Hospital here.
The unit will function on Wednesdays from 7.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Explaining the symptoms of clubfoot, also known as talipes equinovarus , S. Syed Mohideen, Joint Director of Health and Rural Services, said it was a congenital foot deformity. The foot was usually short and broad in appearance and the heel points downward while the front half of the foot was found turned inward. The heel cord (Achilles’ tendon) is tight. The heel can appear narrow and the muscles in the calf are smaller compared to a normal lower leg.
He said that clubfoot was reported in 1 to 3 of every 1,000 births, with boys outnumbering girls. Either one or both feet may be affected.
On the causes, he said the factors were usually both genetic and environmental. Family history of clubfoot, multiple gestations, position of the baby in the uterus, and increased occurrences in those children with neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy (CP) were some factors.
This apart, Oligohydramnios (decreased amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the foetus in the uterus) during pregnancy could cause the deformity.
He said that child-specific treatment would be available depending on age, overall health, and medical history of the child.
The goal of treatment was to straighten the foot so that it could grow and develop normally.
Treatment options for infants included non-surgical and surgical treatment.
Nonsurgical treatment included serial manipulation and casting, taping, physical therapy, and splinting and use of a machine that provided continuous passive motion.
Ponseti method using manipulation and casting was the most frequently used method to treat clubfoot.
Most cases of clubfoot in infants could be corrected within two or three months of using this method.
It is recommended that Ponseti method treatment be started as soon as clubfoot was diagnosed, even from the second week of birth. Because clubfoot may recur, braces are worn for several years to prevent relapse. Initially, the braces are worn for 23 hours a day for up to three months, then at night for two to four years.
Surgical treatment might be used when the deformity recurred and did not respond to nonsurgical treatment. The specific surgical procedure and extent of surgery would depend on the type and extent of the deformity. Postoperatively, surgical wires, pins, or a cast may be used to maintain the corrected foot position until it had healed. Splints may be needed for several months up to a few years after surgery.
He said that four children were treated on Wednesday, indicating its success in the district.
One to three children in every 1,000 get clubfoot
A combination of genetic and environmental factors cause it
