ORTHOPEDICS/LEG, FOOT & ANKLE/ PAIN CAUSES
One of the most frequent abnormalities in newborns are feet problems.
Most of these foot abnormalities are treated with nonsurgical therapy. However, it is important knowing the abnormality to ensure appropriate therapy.
- Clubfoot Deformity / baby with clubfoot
Clubfoot deformity in fact designates an assortment of foot abnormalities that cause a newborn baby’s feet to be twisted, pointing down and inward.
Almost half of babies with clubfoot have it in both feet. Boys have clubfeet nearly the double of girls.
While clubfoot does not cause the baby pain, if kept untreated, it can cause problems affecting walking ability.
However, if it is treated appropriately with stretching trainings, performers, and/or surgery, the clubfoot abnormality can generally be adjusted in early childhood.
- Metatarsus Adductus Deformity
Metatarsus adductus is a communal congenital foot disorder observed in about 1 to 2% of all newborns.
It is typically detected when baby’s toes and forefoot are pointed inward.
Minor cases habitually resolve by their own, but more severe conditions may need performers, supports, or corrective shoes.
Surgery is seldom needed for metatarsus adductus.
- Congenital Vertical Talus Deformity
Congenital vertical talus is an exceptional cause of a flatfoot type with newborns.
Itis frequently related to other congenital or chromosomal deformities. The appearance of the baby’s foot with congenital vertical talus is a sole that looks like the bottom of a rocking chair.
The therapy for vertical talus is similar to the therapy for clubfoot, using stretching trainings, performers, and, eventually surgery.
- Polydactyly Deformity
Polydactyly means that baby has an extra toe or toes and it is in fact very frequent.
Though it can be hereditary, sometimes polydactyly arises without any family history.
The therapy of polydactyly depends on where and how the extra toe or toes are linked.
If there is no bone and the toe is poorly shaped, a clip can be put on it to stop blood flow.
Better-shaped toes are surgically removed once baby is about one year old, but before he (or she) starts walking.
- Congenital Curly Toes / Deformity
Curly toes arise when one of the baby’s toes is atypically rotated.
The toe will also be in a curved position, but the principal abnormality is the toe mal-rotation.(It generally arises on both feet).
Most of the curly toe deformities resolve by their own.
The therapy of a curly toe deformity is to cut the tendon on the bottom of the toe to relieve the stress causing the rotation, (typically not until the child is at least 6 years old, since deformity may disappear by itself).
- Overlapping Toes Deformity
An overlapping toe occurs when baby’s fifth digit (the baby toe) crosses over the top of the fourth toe.
This disorder arises in variable degrees
With some children, an overlapping toe can cause problems with footwear and may necessitate a surgical process to correct the abnormality.