In many cases, the top of the foot can touch the shin bone. Usually, this mild foot deformity goes away without treatment, and there are no lasting effects. Metatarsus adductus is another mild foot deformity in which the front part of the foot is turned inward. Although present at birth, this foot deformity may not be diagnosed until the baby is a month to a few months old. This condition causes the child to walk with a toe-in gait.
Most affected children require no treatment, as the condition often resolves by itself.
However, more severe cases are treated to help the foot work better and to prevent later problems in fitting shoes. Clubfoot is not painful and it doesn t bother the baby until he or she begins to stand and walk. Untreated, the ankle remains twisted and the foot can t move up and down as it normally would, creating an awkward gait. The part walked on may become infected, develop a large, hard callus, and the entire leg often is unable to grow as it should. Painful arthritic changes also develop.