The extent of treatment varies, depending on the severity of each child's condition. Congenital clubfoot is usually mild to moderate, while clubfoot that accompanies other conditions is more severe. Most physicians agree that all infants should be given an initial trial of treatments that do not involve surgery, no matter how rigid the deformity. Nonoperative treatments include physical therapy, taping and splinting, and plaster casting. The earlier these conservative treatments are begun, the more likely they are to be successful, Dr. Scott says.
Casts extend from the toes to either just above or just below the knee.
They are changed frequently, each time repositioning the foot a little closer to normal. For the first two to three weeks, the casts are changed every week. Cast changes are then decreased to once every two weeks. Manipulation and casting may be distressing to the infant for a short period only, Dr. Scott says, but the baby soon settles once rewrapped and cuddled. Complete correction, if it happens, will occur by the time the child is 3 to 6 months of age.