What Is Adult Clubfoot?

Clubfoot occurs when the foot or feet appear to turn inwards beginning at the ankle.

Clubfoot is characterized by the painful-looking way it causes a person to walk or stand. Those who suffer from clubfoot look like they are walking on their ankles or the sides of their feet, with the heels of the foot pointed downwards and the front half of the foot turned inwards.

The exact causes of clubfoot are not fully determined, but with treatments, Clubfoot can be resolved.

Clubfoot is a condition that is present at birth where one foot or both feet are in a position that points inward and downward. The condition occurs in about 1 in every 1000 births and is more frequent in boys than girls. While clubfoot can be treated in newborn babies with the Ponseti Method, clubfoot also exists in adults.

A residual deformity is an adult clubfoot that happened in infancy that was treated improperly or not treated at all. There are also cases where a clubfoot-like deformity can happen after a trauma or stroke. The good news is there is technique for adults, which is very successful

What Causes Adult Clubfoot?

The exact causes of clubfoot are not fully determined, but with treatments, Clubfoot can be resolved.

Clubfoot is a condition that is present at birth where one foot or both feet are in a position that points inward and downward. The condition occurs in about 1 in every 1000 births and is more frequent in boys than girls. While clubfoot can be treated in newborn babies with the Ponseti Method, clubfoot also exists in adults.

What Are The Symptoms of Adult Clubfoot?

Clubfoot is characterized by the painful-looking way it causes a person to walk or stand. Those who suffer from clubfoot look like they are walking on their ankles or the sides of their feet, with the heels of the foot pointed downwards and the front half of the foot turned inwards.

What Are The Treatment Options For Adult Clubfoot?

There are also cases where a clubfoot-like deformity can happen after a trauma or stroke. The good news is there is technique for adults, which is very successful.

Mild Adult Club Foot cases may be managed with braces or corrective procedures to realign the bones.  In more severe cases, it may be difficult or unsafe to correct all at once.  In these cases, Drs. Haskell and Kim may use the Ilizarov method to realign the foot.” … then continue with the Ilizarov description.

The Ilizarov Method was developed by Professor G.A Ilizarov at the Institute of Kurgan, Siberia in the 1950s and introduced in the United States in the late 1980s. In the Ilizarov Method, a foot and ankle surgeon placed tension wires (connected to a frame) through the bony structures of the clubfoot to realign the joint surfaces and foot anatomy.

The Ilizarov external fixator, also called the Ilizarov Aparatus, may also be used to stabilize fractures, re-grow lost bone or correct deformities.

The external fixator on the leg is adjusted gradually at home by the patient with instructions given by the surgeon. By doing this, the bone – in the clubfoot – moves into a better and more corrected position, making it easier to walk.

The external fixator stays on the feet and legs for about 5-6 months. After the external fixator comes off, then Dr. Haskell or Dr. Kim, who specializes in Ilizarov surgery, applies a below-knee walking cast for about 2-3 months.

Our foot and ankle surgeons are experts using the Ilizarov Method and external fixation to fix adult clubfeet.