Club Foot

What is Club Foot?

Club foot is a congenital deformity, i.e. a condition present at birth, where one or both feet abnormally point inward and downward. Club Foot is also known as: talipes equinovarus (TEV) or congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV). The diagnosis of club foot is usually done after birth. However, an experienced ultrasonography can detect it during a routine ultrasound scan done during 18 – 21 weeks of pregnancy. 

Treatment of Club Foot

In most cases, early treatment can help in complete correction of the deformity without open surgery.  Treatment for babies with club foot by the Ponseti technique is used worldwide and in Australia with excellent results. A series of casts changed weekly gradually correct the foot deformities. In most cases, an outpatient lengthening of the Achilles tendon will also be required at the time of the last cast. Night time bracing of both feet is then commenced and continued until age 5 to decrease the chance of recurrence of the club foot deformities.

In cases where treatment has not been commenced early after birth, or in cases of residual or recurrent deformity down the track after treatment with the Ponseti technique, surgery may be indicated. Surgeries that may be considered include releases of tight or contracted muscles, tendons and ligaments, tendon transfers or foot osteotomies.