About the disease
Foot pronation, also known as clubfoot, is a condition characterized by an abnormal positioning of the foot while walking or running. There are several ways that foot pronation may manifest itself. In some children, the heel of the foot is smaller than usual, making it difficult to stand or walk steadily. In other cases, the foot cannot move from a pointed position or it points inwards and lacks full flexibility.
In most cases, foot pronation is a congenital condition that is visible when the child is born. It can affect one or both foot. According to WebMD, 50% of newborns with clubfoot experience pronation on both feet. Treatment must start immediately if complications, which would prevent a child from learning how to stand and walk normally, are to be avoided. If treatment is started early on, the prognosis is excellent and clubfoot can usually be fixed before the child starts learning how to walk.
In most cases, foot pronation does not cause the child any discomfort or pain. The condition, also known as postural clubfoot, can develop if the child was in an unusual position in the mother’s womb. A genetic predisposition can also play a part in the development of this condition and, in rare cases, clubfoot can also indicate problems with the nervous system or with the brain. It is therefore important that many tests are carried out to rule out other conditions, before a child is diagnosed with clubfoot.
Symptoms
- Foot assumes an abnormal position
- Inability to position the foot normally, even by stretching
- Foot may be twisted
Diagnosis
- A pediatrician will examine the shape of the child's foot immediately after birth.
- It is important to take the child for regular check-ups during their early development, so the pediatrician can check for abnormalities in the foot anatomy.
- An MRI and CT scan of the brain are sometimes performed, in order to rule out other conditions that could have caused foot pronation.
- Nerve endings will also be examined to check they are functioning normally.
Treatment
- Conservative treatment, such as using a splint or a cast to immobilize the foot, is often enough to correct the problem. The foot and leg are kept in the same position for two to four months, until the foot can assume a normal position by itself. Special massage and physical therapy can also assist the normal recovery process.
- Surgery is an option if conservative treatment did not resolve the problem. The soft-tissue structures, such as the tendons and ligaments of the foot, may be surgically lengthened so that they are not so tight. In some cases, the bones may be repositioned with special wires as well. These wires are worn for a period of two to four weeks, after which a cast may be fitted.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed
