|
|
|
|
|
Club FootA club foot, or talipes equinovarus (TEV), is a birth defect. The foot is twisted in and down. Without treatment, persons afflicted often appear to walk on their ankles, or on the sides of their feet. It is the most common birth defect, occurring in approximately one in every two - three hundred babies. It is not uncommon for both feet to be clubbed. Researchers do not know exactly how club foot is caused. Some think it may sometimes be caused by intrauterine compression (possibly from oligohydramnios). Others think it is caused by a genetic malfunction during first trimester development. It can run in families, with incidence rates increasing significantly when multiple direct families members have the condition. Incidence in males is higher than in females. Casting and special shoes can be used to force the foot into a normal position, but the most common way to correct the deformity is through surgery. Foot manipulations usually begin within one week of birth. Surgery is usually performed if the foot has not been corrected by ~3 months after birth. Even with successful treatment, the affected foot (if unilateral) ends up 1-2 sizes smaller than the other foot and the calf muscles end up shorter resulting in a cosmetic problem. Another form of correction is known as the Ponseti Method. Foot manipulations are very precise in this method, beginning within one week of birth. Each manipulation is followed by a casting, with a tenotomy (microscopic incision in the tendon requiring only local anasthetic and no stitches) being required around three months. Unlike the manipulation and casting method practiced by others, the Ponseti method holds a 95% non-surgical success rate. Children go on to wear a Dennis Brown Bar for a period of time after treatment to ensure that the foot continues to grow appropriately. The long-term outlook for children who experienced Ponseti Method treatment is comparative to that of non-affected children.
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|