Club Foot Treatment Specialist in Orange County

 

A Pediatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon in Orange County explains options for pediatric clubfoot.
Parents know immediately if their newborn child has a clubfoot. Some will even know before the child is born, if an ultrasound was done during the pregnancy. A clubfoot occurs in approximately one in every 1,000 births, with boys slightly outnumbering girls. One or both feet may be affected.

Cause of Club Foot

Your baby’s chance of having a clubfoot is twice as likely if you, your spouse or your other children also have it.
Low level of amniotic fluid.

Symptoms of Club Foot

The appearance is unmistakable: the foot is turned to the side and it may even appear that the top of the foot is where the bottom should be.
The involved foot, calf, and leg are smaller and shorter than the normal side.
It is not a painful condition. But if it is not treated, clubfoot will lead to significant discomfort and disability by the teenage years.

Treatment of Clubfoot in Orange County

Nonsurgical Treatment of Clubfoot
Treatment should begin right away to have the best chance for a successful outcome without the need for surgery.

We change the cast every week for several weeks, always stretching the foot toward the correct position.

The heel cord is sometimes released followed by one more cast for three weeks. This can be done in the office.

Once the foot has been corrected, the infant must wear a brace for a short period of time to maintain the correction.

This has been extremely effective, but requires the parents to actively participate in the daily care by applying the braces.

Without the parents’ participation, the clubfoot will almost certainly recur. Click here for more information on stretching a clubfoot.

Early treatment is a must. Call Dr. Kolodenker for an appointment in Irvine, California (949) 651-1202

Surgical Treatment of Clubfoot in Orange County

On occasion, stretching, casting and bracing are not enough to correct your baby’s clubfoot. Surgery may be needed to adjust the tendons, ligaments and joints in the foot/ankle. Usually done at 8 to 18 months of age, surgery corrects all of your baby’s clubfoot deformities at the same time. After surgery, a cast holds the clubfoot still while it heals. It’s still possible for the muscles in your child’s foot to try to return to the clubfoot position, and special shoes or braces will likely be used for up to a year or more after surgery. Surgery sometimes results in a stiffer foot than nonsurgical treatment, particularly as the years pass by.

For a surgical consult Call Dr. Kolodenker

Residual Clubfoot in Adults

Residual club foot in adults can result in chronic pain and severe arthritis.

Surgical correction or bracing are good options.

Clubfoot surgeon in orange county southern california

Clubfoot

Last Updated 11-15-2016