What is Clubfoot?
Clubfoot is a congenital (by birth) deformity in which the affected foot appears rotated internally at the ankle (Dr. Deepak Inamday) Clubfoot occurs in 1 to 4 live births. Clubfoot is the most common musculoskeletal birth deformity, affecting 200,000 newborn children each year, 80 percent in developing countries.(Ponseti international) In Kenya, 1,653 babies are born with clubfoot annually. Clubfoot can be mild or severe.
APDK works in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Cure International Kenya, Hope Walk, and Clubfoot Care for Kenya in the management of clubfoot. Clubfoot Care clinic is held every Tuesday at APDK Rehab clinic.
What are the Symptoms of Clubfoot? (Mayo clinic)
clubfoot before treatment
- The top of the foot is usually twisted downward and inward, increasing the arch and turning the heel inward.
- The foot may be turned so severely that it actually looks as if it’s upside down.
- The affected leg or foot may be slightly shorter.
- The calf muscles in the affected leg are usually underdeveloped.
What are the causes of club foot?
The causes of clubfoot are unknown, however, boys are twice as likely to develop the clubfoot than girls.
When should one seek treatment for clubfoot?
Doctors generally recommend treating clubfoot soon after birth. (Mayo clinic).
Before treatment After level one management
How is clubfoot treated?
1st Level of Management
The primary way of treatment is the Ponseti method which involves the manipulation of the baby’s foot with their hands. The aim is to correct the bend in the foot. Then a plaster cast is applied from the toes to the thigh, to hold the foot in position. The casting is repeated at weekly intervals.
Minor surgery may follow the Ponseti method treatment, if necessary, to release the Achilles tendon.
2nd Level of management
After the foot is corrected, second level of management is introduced. The patient needs to wear special boots attached to a brace to hold the foot, or feet, in the best position. This is to prevent relapse.
For 2 to 3 months, the boots are worn 23 hours a day. After this, they are only worn at night and during daytime naps, until the age of around 4 years. (Ben Igesa, APDK)
Can clubfoot cause disability?
A clubfoot will not improve without treatment. Leaving the foot untreated increases, the risk of complications later in life and leads to disability.
What happens to untreated clubfoot? Untreated clubfoot can led to the following:
- Your child is likely to develop arthritis.
- Poor self-image. The unusual appearance of the foot may make your child’s body image a concern during the teen years.
- Inability to walk normally. The twist of the ankle may not allow your child to walk on the sole of the foot. To compensate, he or she may walk on the ball of the foot, the outside of the foot or even the top of the foot in severe cases.
- Problems stemming from walking adjustments.Walking adjustments may prevent the natural growth of the calf muscles, cause large sores or calluses on the foot, and result in an awkward gait. (Mayo clinic)
Tales of Tranformation – Treated clubfoot cases, follow this link Clubfoot is treatable – Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya – APDK
Book an appointment
We are located on Waiyaki Way opposite ABC Place/ between Njuguna’s meatjoint and Kabete Army Barracks, we are open from Monday to Friday from 8:00am. Call 0722 33 46 77 to book an appointment.
When is the world clubfoot celebrated?
On June 3rd clubfoot families and healthcare workers around the globe celebrate World Clubfoot Day. The date was chosen to commemorate the birthdate of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, (1914-2009) the developer of the Ponseti Method to treat clubfoot.
What is the goal of celebrating World Clubfoot Day?
The goal of World Clubfoot Day is to raise awareness about clubfoot disability and its prevention using the Ponseti Method, a non-surgical treatment that includes gentle manipulation of the feet followed by the application of plaster casts and temporary bracing. World Clubfoot Day (ponseti.info)Ponseti International Association (PIA)
APDK works in collaboration with other stakeholders list below in management and training on clubfoot care
- Hope Walk Kenya
- Clubfoot Care for Kenya
- Cure international
For more information, follow the links below;
Home (ponseti.info), Ponseti International
Clubfoot – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
Treated clubfoot cases
Clubfoot is treatable – Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya – APDK
Tales of Tranformation