If your baby was born with a condition known as clubfoot, one or both of their feet is turned inward and facing up toward their body. Akron Children’s Clubfoot Clinic successfully treats most infants with this condition without surgery, by applying a series of plaster casts that gradually correct the deformity. This treatment, known as the Ponseti method, is considered the “gold standard” for treating clubfoot.
Clubfoot is one of the most common foot problems in infancy. It occurs twice as often in boys than in girls. In about half of cases, both feet are affected. Although the exact cause is unknown, clubfoot may be due to your baby’s positioning in the womb, or a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
If your baby has been diagnosed with clubfoot, treatment should begin as soon as possible. The Ponseti method involves casting your baby’s foot or feet once a week for 4-6 weeks, starting soon after birth. This technique is more than 90 percent effective in achieving normal foot function with excellent long-term results.
Vice Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery; Co-Director, Brachial Plexus Treatment Center; Director, Clubfoot Clinic; Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon; Director, Orthopedic Surgery & Clubfoot Clinic, Mahoning Valley