Club Foot

A club foot birth defect is easy to see at birth. The term club foot refers to various foot abnormalities that cause the foot to be positioned at a sharp angle from the ankle. In other words, the position of the child's leg and foot resemble a golf club. A child may be born with one or two club feet.

Often, a child born with a club foot does not have any other birth defects. However, there is an increased association with spina bifida.

What Causes a Child to be Born with a Club Foot?

Before we discuss the potential causes of a club foot, it is important to know what does not cause a club foot. Your child did not suffer from a club foot because of his or her position in your womb. Instead, a club foot may develop because of:

• Another condition such as spina bifida.
• The use of prescription drugs during pregnancy such as Zoloft or Paxil.
• Cigarette smoking during pregnancy.
• Unknown reasons.

Males and children born to a family with a history of club foot diagnoses have an increased risk of being born with a club foot.

How is a Club Foot Treated?

Generally, treatment for a club foot will start soon after birth so that the condition may be corrected before your child learns to walk. Some treatment options including:

• Stretching or repositioning the foot to the correct position and casting it to hold it in place.
• Stretching the foot, daily at first and then less frequently and taping the foot into place after each stretching.
• Surgery to lengthen the tendons and position the foot into place. This is typically followed by use of a brace for about a year to maintain the correct position.