Treatment for congenital crooked foot, which is when the baby is born with 1 or 2 feet turned inward, should be done as early as possible in the first few weeks after birth to avoid permanent deformations in the child's foot. When done correctly, there are chances of the child walking normally.
Treatment for bilateral congenital clubfoot may be conservative when done through the Ponseti method, which consists of manipulating and placing plaster every week on the baby's feet and using orthopedic boots.
Another form of treatment for congenital clubfoot is surgery to correct deformity in the feet, combined with physical therapy, which can last for months or years.
Conservative treatment for congenital crooked feet
Conservative treatment for congenital clubfoot should be done by the orthopedist and includes:
- Handling of the foot and placement of plaster every week in a total of 5 to 7 exchanges of plaster. Once a week the doctor moves and rotates the baby's foot according to Ponseti's method, without pain for the baby, and places the plaster, as shown in the first image;
- Prior to the placement of the last cast, the doctor does tenotomy of the heel tendon which consists of a procedure with sedation and anesthesia in the baby's foot to repair the tendon;
- The baby should stay with the last gypsum for 3 months;
- After removal of the last plaster, the baby should use a Denis Browne orthosis, which are orthopedic boots with a bar in the middle, as shown in the second image, 23 hours a day, for 3 months;
- After 3 months, the orthosis should be used for 12 hours at night and 2 to 4 hours a day until the child does 3 or 4 years to complete the correction of the crooked foot with the manipulation and the plaster and to prevent relapses.
At the beginning of the use of the boots, the child may become uncomfortable, but soon begins to learn to move their legs and get accustomed.
Treatment for congenital clubfoot using the Ponseti method, when done correctly, achieves optimal results and the child can walk normally.
Surgical treatment for congenital crooked foot
Surgical treatment for congenital crooked foot should be done when the conservative treatment is not working, ie, after 5 to 7 gypsum results are not observed.
The surgery should be done between 3 months and 1 year of age and after the operation the child should use plaster for 3 months. However, surgery does not cure crooked feet. It improves the appearance of the foot and the child can walk, however, it decreases the strength of the baby's feet and legs and can cause stiffness and pain from the age of 20 years.
Congenital biceps foot physiotherapy can help strengthen leg muscles and helps the child support his feet properly. Physiotherapeutic treatment for congenital crooked foot includes manipulations, stretching, and bandages to help position the feet.
