How is clubfoot different in children?

Clubfoot affects the position and flexibility of the foot and ankle. The sole may face inward, the heel may sit higher, and the calf on that side may look smaller. The foot is not simply turned by the baby's position in the womb, and it should not be forcibly straightened at home.

Some children have clubfoot on one side and some on both. A paediatric orthopaedic assessment checks flexibility, skin, circulation, movement, and whether another condition may be involved. Early care uses the child's growth and flexibility to guide correction.

Treatment commonly begins early with gentle stretching and a series of casts that gradually guide the foot towards a better position. A small procedure may sometimes be recommended to improve ankle alignment, followed by a brace to help maintain the correction. The treating team will explain how long and when the brace should be worn.

Families can help by checking the skin around cast edges and brace straps, keeping appointments, and reporting slipping, pressure marks, swelling, or changes in toe colour. Never trim a cast or alter a brace without advice.

Contact the treating team promptly if toes become blue, pale, cold, very swollen, or difficult to move; if a cast becomes wet, cracked, loose, or painfully tight; or if the child has severe pain or an unusual fever. Arrange review if the foot seems to turn back in, the brace is not fitting, or skin irritation does not settle.

Ask how flexible the foot is, which correction approach is recommended, and how casting or bracing will affect bathing, sleep, clothing, and movement. Ask how to check circulation and skin, what to do if a brace is removed, and how recurrence will be monitored as the child grows.