MFM Patient Education
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Patient Education · Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Understanding Clubfoot

What to expect when your baby's foot turns inward

For expecting parents Fetal diagnosis consultation
Definition

What Is Clubfoot?

  • ▶ Foot turns inward and downward at birth
  • ▶ Medical term: talipes equinovarus
  • ▶ One or both feet may be affected
  • ▶ Detected on prenatal ultrasound
Epidemiology

How Common Is It?

1 in 1,000 babies are born with clubfoot

One of the most common structural birth conditions. Your care team has extensive experience treating it.

Etiology

What Causes Clubfoot?

Contributing Factors

  • ▶ Often no clear cause identified
  • ▶ Genetic predisposition
  • ▶ Family history increases risk

Important to Know

  • ▶ Not caused by anything you did
  • ▶ Cannot be prevented
Outcomes

Will My Baby Be Okay?

>95% treatment success rate with the Ponseti method
  • ▶ Walk, run, and play normally
  • ▶ Treatment begins shortly after birth
  • ▶ Most children have no long-term limitations
Treatment

The Ponseti Method

Birth – 2 wks Assessment & planning
2 – 8 wks Serial casting (weekly)
~8 wks Tenotomy (if needed)
Age 0 – 4 yrs Brace wear
Long-term Normal activity
Treatment — Phase 1

Serial Casting

  • ▶ Begins within days of birth
  • ▶ New cast applied weekly for 6–8 weeks
  • ▶ Gently repositions foot with each change
  • ▶ Performed by pediatric orthopedic specialist
Treatment — Phase 2

Tenotomy & Bracing

Tenotomy

  • ▶ Small Achilles tendon procedure
  • ▶ Needed in ~80% of cases
  • ▶ Done under local anesthesia

Bracing

  • ▶ 23 hrs/day for first 3 months
  • ▶ Nights/naps until age 4–5
  • ▶ Prevents recurrence
Long-term

Long-Term Outlook

  • ▶ Most children walk and run normally
  • ▶ Can participate in sports and physical activities
  • ▶ Treated foot may be slightly smaller
  • ▶ Periodic follow-up until skeletal maturity

Athletes with treated clubfoot compete at the highest levels of sport.

Summary

Key Takeaways

1 Clubfoot is treatable — outcomes with the Ponseti method are excellent
2 Treatment begins shortly after birth with gentle serial casting
3 With proper care, most children have no long-term activity limitations