Recent research, however, shows that surgery at 5 or 6 months of age improves the range of motion, shape and overall correction of the foot. The procedure generally releases tightness of the soft tissues, correctly repositioning the bones and ligaments and lengthening the tendons. Although clubfoot can occur when there is no prior record of the disorder, the incidence of the condition is slightly higher in families with a history of the problem. In most cases, weekly stretching and recasting of the foot over a three-month period is considered the first line of treatment for clubfoot. This is usually ineffective, however, because in the majority of cases the foot is fixed and rigid.
Surgery is generally necessary to allow children near-normal function of the foot.
Following surgery, children may require several years of bracing to maintain the foot in the correct position. Although repair of clubfoot is generally very effective in terms of the foot function, there may be residual limitations in the joints around the ankle or foot. In addition, the foot may be shorter and the leg will often appear thinner than the normal leg. There are many children born with a curved sole who have no other signs of clubfoot. This relatively benign disorder is known in medical circles as metatarsus adductus that occurs as a result of the baby's position within the womb.