Varus clubfoot is a congenital deformity of the foot that can be caused by genetic or positional factors. Treatment options include physical therapy, casting, supportive footwear, and surgery. Despite the deformity, individuals can still pursue athletic careers and have normal physical development. Those with genetic disorders may require additional follow-up and treatment.
Varus clubfoot, also known as equinus clubfoot or clubfoot, is a very common congenital deformity of the foot in which the limb is twisted, so people appear to walk on the ankle or the outer edge of the sole. It is very treatable, especially if caught early, and most people born with the condition are given surgery soon after birth to address it. Some very notable individuals including Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and poet Lord Byron were born with a varus foot deformity.
There are several potential causes for this condition. One is genetic disorders, including skeletal and connective tissue disorders. These can cause abnormal development in a fetus and can lead to a varus deformity, along with other medical problems. Other cases are thought to be positional, caused by the way the fetus is in the uterus. When the baby is delivered, the inward rotation of the feet will be clearly visible and it may be difficult or impossible to fully straighten the foot due to the shortened tendons.
Conservative treatment involves the use of stretches, physical therapy, casting, and supportive footwear to slowly bring the foot back into alignment. This may not always be an option, as in cases where there is clear skeletal deformity, no amount of physical therapy will be effective. The other option is surgery to realign the foot and correct the deformities if needed. After surgery, physical therapy will be used to build strength and muscle tone, while maintaining alignment in the foot and ankle.
Newborn boys are more likely than girls to have a varus foot deformity. In either case, treatment can be very successful and the person may continue to have no further foot and ankle problems. As illustrated in the case of Kristi Yamaguchi, this birth defect is not a barrier to pursuing an athletic career, for example, and children with clubfoot deformity usually do not lag behind their peers in terms of physical development and skill acquisition like crawling and staggering.
Sometimes, this condition is seen in association with other medical problems. People with more complex genetic conditions may need follow-up and treatment for these issues even after the varus deformity has been addressed. For people with genetic disorders, a thorough evaluation is needed to determine the extent of the disorder and provide recommendations for care and treatment, as these disorders tend to manifest slightly differently, depending on a number of factors.
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