Club Foot
Explanation |
Treatment |
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Contact UsWhat is club foot?
Club foot is a complex deformity of the foot that can be found in the normal child or can be associated with other disorders. It may involve one or both feet and is present at birth. The diagnosis is made in the newborn nursery. The cause of club foot is not known. Club foot is present at birth and can be diagnosed by examination of the foot. X-rays are not necessary to make the diagnosis.
What does club foot look like? 
The foot resembles the end of a golf club (hence its name). The foot is curved in toward the midline and the toes point down. If the infant has bilateral club feet (both feet are involved), the soles of the feet face each other.
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Treatment
Treatment most commonly consists of a series of castings in the newborn over a period of several weeks with frequent cast changes to gradually correct the deformity. Often, the heel cord needs to be lengthened during this time. This requires a small incision, followed by a final cast.
For those feet that do not respond to casting, surgery is required once the child gets a little older (between 6 - 12 months). Additional surgeries may be required as the child gets older if some deformity still exists.
The goal of treatment is a normal appearing foot that fits well in shoes, functions normally and does not cause pain.
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When to Call the Doctor
Notify the orthopaedic doctor or nurse if:
- Any drainage is noticed on the cast
- Any foul smelling odors come from inside the cast
- If the skin at the edges of the cast become very red, sore or irritated
- If your child runs a fever of 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit or higher without an explanation, like a cold or viral illness
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Contact Us
If you need to reach the Orthopaedic Nurse before 4 pm, Monday through Friday, please call 513-636-4567. After 4 pm, and during weekends and holidays, please call 513-636-4200 and ask that the Orthopaedic Resident on call be paged.
For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.
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Rev. 11/09
