Treatments and Drugs for Clubfoot

Treatments and drugs

Because your newborn's bones and joints are extremely flexible, treatment for clubfoot usually begins soon after birth. The goal of treatment is to restore the look and function of the foot before your child learns to walk, in hopes of preventing long-term disabilities. Treatment options include:

• Stretching and casting (Ponseti method). This treatment entails manipulating the foot into a correct position and then placing it in a cast to maintain that position. Repositioning and recasting occurs every week for several weeks. After the shape of the foot is realigned, it's maintained through stretching exercises, special shoes or splinting with braces at night for up to three years. For this method to work effectively, you'll need to apply your child's braces according to your doctor's specifications so that the foot doesn't return to its original position.

• Stretching and taping (French method). This approach involves daily manipulation of the foot, followed by the use of adhesive tape to maintain the correct position until the next day. After two months, treatments are reduced to three times each week until the baby is 6 months old. Once the foot's shape is corrected, parents continue to perform daily exercises and use night splints until their baby is walking age. This method requires commitment to very frequent appointments for six months. Some providers combine the French method and the Ponseti method.

• Surgery. In some cases, when clubfoot is severe or doesn't respond to nonsurgical treatments, your baby may need surgery. An orthopedic surgeon can lengthen tendons to help ease the foot into a more appropriate position. After surgery, your child will need to wear a brace for a year or so to prevent recurrence of the deformities.

Even with treatment, clubfoot may not be totally correctable. But in most cases babies who are treated early grow up to wear normal shoes and lead normal, active lives.

References:

Mayo Clinic

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