Anyone born with or had children who were born with clubfeet?

Question

On April 1 last year I gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy and he unfortunately had clubfeet. He has worn several casts and had a few surgeries. Just wondering how others dealt with and thier outcome

Answer 1

My son was born with bilateral clubfeet.

He began casting at 3 days old. Every week his feet were manipulated into the next postition and then casted. The casting went really well until it was time to pull the foot into the 90 degree angle. The angle that places the foot flat to the floor. Our POS decided to do a tendon release when he was 2 1/2 months old. After the surgery he wore the casts for a few more weeks. Our doctor felt that since he did so well with the casting that regular ankle, foot orthodics would do the job. So at around 4 months we got his first pair.

The AFO's are made of plastic and caused his skin to become cracked and bloody. Even infected at one point. But we found that if you get them to drill little holes in them that enough air circulates through them and you can avoid most of the cracking. Another problem with the AFO's is they are secured on with velcro... well, as I'm sure you can imagine they learn how to undo that real quick. We had to put him in footie pj's so he couldn't take them off at night! Still do and he's two now. Up until April he had to wear them pretty much 24 hours a day. Now he only has to wear them at night or if when we travel and he can't walk for extended periods of time.

So... the big question... and I worried about this too... when and how will walking go? My son walked a little late. He was about 18 months old when he started walking. They have shoes that can go over the AFO's so they don't slide on every surface. Walking really helps the feet stay corrected. He runs, kicks and plays like every other two year old. He falls a bit more than other kids his age but he's getting better.

It's hard to watch your child go through it all but it could be so much worse! Good luck with your son. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. I may be able to help you or atleast talk you through some of it!

Answer 2

My nephew had a club foot when he was born. Sounds like he went through the same thing your little guy is going through now. He just turned 4 in May, and as of now, he's worn a brace, had cast after cast, and a few surgeries. The last one was right after he turned three, and to look at him today, you'd never know there was anything wrong with him, except for a scar on his leg/ankle. He walks perfectly fine, doesn't limp...basically doesn't have any problems.

Answer 3

So not sure how long ago you posted this but unlike everyone else on hear it have a clubfoot and can tell you exactly how it effects me. I am 21 and had the surgery back in 1997. Long story short as he gets older his foot will lose a lot of motion there will be more growing pains than normal and he will feel different than other kids. BUT! He will run jump swim and play sports like any other kid. I know you love your kid and it sucks having a clubfoot but please do not baby him to much about it I can think of nothing worse than being told growing up that I can't play sports I can't run i can't jump and I can't be a kid it socks trust me that was my childhood but now I am in listing in to the United States army. Best of luck and hope everything is going well.

Answer 4

First of all, congrats! April 1st is the best birthday to have! (I know cause it's mine.) Second, my son was born with a clubfoot. They casted him until he was about four months old. Then we did shoes. After we realized that wasn't going to work, surgery was scheduled. At seven months, he went through surgery. It was so much better than I thought it would be! Now he's six. The only thing you can notice is a scar on the back of his foot and his calf muscle is smaller on that leg. If you have any questions or just want to chat more, e-mail me.

Answer 5

I have a cousin who was born with club feet and I think the cast is the only thing they had done for her. Don't really know much about it. Just remember seeing pictures of her as a baby with casts on both feet and they said the reason was that the casts help straighten them out. Wish I knew more about it to help you. :)

Answer 6

My best friend was born with club feet. His mother could not afford the surgery, so she did physical therapy on his feet. It was very painful to him, but in the long run he was able to walk and buy normal shoes, though he required ankle support and always wears boots.

Years later, his mother dated a man who had had the surgery for club feet. He was (in his 40s) in constant pain and had to buy specially made shoes.

A couple of years ago, our chiropracter looked at my friend's feet and got a confused expression on his face, and then adjusted my friend's feet. Now they're normal for the first time in his life.

Good luck.

Answer 7

My best friends daughter was born with clubfoot she wore several different cast till she was standing alone then wore corrective shoes till she started trying to walk they switch to a different corrective shoe that allowed her to walk and wore that type till she was 3 she is now 11 and runs and plays you can't even tell which foot it was now. hope that helped a little