Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot and ankle are twisted. In such a deformity, the tendons and ligaments hold the bones and muscles and bone too tight hence creating an abnormal foot orientation. A typical clubfoot looks like a golf club’s head as the name suggests. The deformity is congenital, meaning that a child is born with it. If diagnosed after birth, Treatment for Clubfoot should begin immediately. Early treatment is easier and more successful. However, there are situations that necessitate clubfoot surgery. The kind of surgery performed is dependent on the following factors:
- The age of your child
- The severity of the clubfoot
- If Ponseti method for clubfoot has failed
During surgery, the child is put under anesthesia to avoid pain. Surgeons prefer waiting until the child is at least one year old. The skin is cut in one or two spots mainly at the back or around the interior part of the foot. The surgeon makes the tendons shorter or longer. The Achilles tendon is often lengthened or cut. In older kids, the bones may be cut and plates, screws or pins inserted o hold the bones together. After the procedure, a cast is used to keep the foot in the right position as it recovers. A brace may be used first in some cases followed by the cast.
Treatment for older kids is quite difficult and more surgery may be required. Here are some of the additional surgeries that may be needed:
- Arthrodesis: also known as fusion, it involves bringing together two bones. A bone from another part of the body may be used.
- Osteotomy: this is the elimination of part of a bone
Sometimes, the Ponseti method for clubfoot may not be sufficient. In other cases some medical conditions like spina bifida can bring musculoskeletal issues in children and physicians may advocate for surgery to give better foot balance and stability. Reconstructive surgery is based on the assessments of a kid’s medical history and the physical anatomy.
On average the failure rate of clubfoot surgery is 25% a lot of complications can happen during and after the process. Parents need to be aware of complications such as clubfoot relapse, persistent adductus, cavus, and over-correction of the hind foot. Even the best surgeons don’t guarantee success because the procedure is relatively difficult. After surgery, the child may live with a number of risks such as:
- Inadequate blood circulation in the foot
- Foot nerve damage
- Ulcers caused by tight casts
- Excess foot swelling
- Stiffness in the ankle which may cause arthritis later in life.
