Clubfoot

Treatments

Doctors at Riley at IU Health use a three-step process to treat clubfoot:

1. Casting. Using the Ponseti method, your child’s orthopedic doctor will apply a cast weekly. Each week, your child’s foot will be stretched and repositioned and a cast applied until the foot is improved. During this time, you should follow the doctor's guidelines for caring for your child's clubfoot cast.
2. Tenotomy. After casting, your child will have a procedure called an Achilles (or heel cord) tenotomy. This is a minor procedure in which the tendon that is too tight is cut. The incision is so small it does not require stitches. Your child will then be casted again. This time the cast will stay on for three weeks to give the incision and tendon time to heal.
3. Bracing. Once the three weeks have past, your child will have the cast removed and will be fitted for Mitchell Bar and Shoes. These are the braces that your child will need to wear to ensure the foot will stay in the correct position. It is very important that you place your child in the shoes and the bar every day. Failure to use the prescribed braces often results in clubfoot recurrence. As your child grows, he or she will receive larger shoes when needed during checkup appointments with his or her orthopedic doctor.