What is the meaning of clubfoot?

When parents or patients are asked what is clubfoot, the simple answer is this: clubfoot is a congenital deformity of the foot that causes the sole of the foot to turn inward or upward instead of lying flat. For this reason, its Persian term is Pachenbari.

This English word Clubfoot is a combination of two words club meaning "club or crooked" and foot meaning "foot". In fact, it is a description of a picture of a foot that has gone out of its normal state and has found an unusual shape.

The important point is that clubfoot never means permanent disability. Although the appearance of the foot is alarming at first, this condition can be completely corrected with proper treatment, especially the Ponseti method. After treatment, most children can run, play and lead a normal life like others.

Simply put, when we ask what does clubfoot mean, the answer is:

• A congenital deformity of the foot
• Usually visible from birth
• Treatable and fixable

Therefore, rather than being a "scary disease", clubfoot is a modifiable disorder that can be cured with timely care.

What is club foot?

When we talk about what is clubfoot, we mean a congenital malformation of the foot that is clearly visible at the time of birth. In this disease, instead of being in a smooth and normal position, the baby's foot turns inwards or downwards and has an unusual appearance. The term "clubfoot" in Farsi is equivalent to Clubfoot in English, and both refer to the same disease.

Ankylosing spondylitis can involve one or both legs. In unilateral cases, one leg is abnormally shaped, while the other leg is normal. In the bilateral case, both legs are deformed, which usually causes more concern for parents. This disorder is formed during the development of the fetus in the mother's womb and has nothing to do with the behavior or lifestyle of the parents after birth.

The salient features of ankle foot or club foot are:

• The sole of the foot is inclined inward or downward.
• The leg looks shorter and smaller than usual.
• The ankle is stiff and has little flexibility.
• In severe cases, the sole of the foot may roll almost upwards or towards the lower leg.

Although the appearance of this disease seems scary at first, it should be noted that clubfoot is not painful at the time of birth. The baby does not suffer from this problem, but if the treatment is not done, it will have many problems in the future. When learning to walk, the affected child cannot put his feet on the ground naturally and has to move on the side of the foot or even on its unnatural surface. This issue causes pain and deformity in the knee and hip joints and ultimately affects the quality of life of a person.

Consequently, when we ask what is clubfoot, we should know that it is a congenital foot disease that, fortunately, can be completely corrected with timely treatment and proper follow-up.

What is the fetus club?

Sometimes parents ask the question during pregnancy, What is clubfoot of the fetus and how can it be identified. The clubfoot of the fetus is actually the clubfoot that was formed before birth, during intrauterine growth. This problem is known as a congenital malformation of the foot and is caused by the abnormal growth of the bones, tendons and ligaments of the foot during pregnancy.

Diagnosis of fetal clubfoot is usually possible in three-dimensional or four-dimensional ultrasounds in the middle months of pregnancy. In these images, the doctor can see the angle and condition of the fetus's legs and, if there is a deviation, suggest the possibility of clubfoot. However, some mild cases may not be detected on ultrasound and may be diagnosed only after the baby is born.

What is clubfoot? This is a deformity in the foot that causes the sole of the foot to tilt inward or downward. This condition can affect one leg or both legs. In the bilateral case, the severity of parents' concern increases, but it should be emphasized that treatment is possible even in this situation.

The point that parents should know is that the stillbirth club in no way means permanent disability or incurable disability. Medical advances in the field of pediatric orthopedics, especially the Ponseti method, have made it possible to successfully treat this disease. By starting the treatment immediately after birth, the child's foot will be gradually corrected and he will be able to walk and have normal activities like other children in the future.

Sometimes parents are worried about what is the cause of this problem. It should be said that in most cases, the exact cause is not known. Some theories consider genetics to be effective, while others consider environmental factors to be involved. But what is important is that Fetal death club is not the fault of the parents and it cannot be definitely prevented. All that needs to be done is to prepare for early postnatal treatment.

In short, the answer to the question What is fetal clubfoot is this: a congenital malformation of the foot that occurs during pregnancy, and with timely diagnosis and proper treatment, it can be completely corrected.

What is two-way clubfoot?

When we talk about bilateral clubfoot, it means that both feet of the baby are involved in this deformity. Unlike unilateral clubfoot, in which only one leg is deformed, in the bilateral type, both legs are out of normal shape, and this usually causes more concern for parents.

Bilateral clubfoot appears in such a way that both feet are turned inward or downward, and the soles of the feet are not properly placed on the ground. In this case, the legs may appear shorter than normal and the wrists may be stiffer. The severity of this deformity in both legs can be similar or different.

Diagnosis of bilateral clubfoot is usually easy at the moment of birth, and in some cases it is even identified in prenatal ultrasounds. Parents should know that although the appearance of this problem is worrying, fortunately there are effective treatment methods for it.

The global treatment standard is the Ponseti method, which includes successive casts and then the use of braces. In bilateral clubfoot, the treatment may take a little longer, but the results will be just as successful. In certain cases, limited tendon surgery can also help correct the foot.

In general, bilateral clubfoot, if treated on time and with regular follow-up, will not hinder the child's normal development. After correction, children can run, play and live a normal life like their peers without any problems.

What is the cause of clubfoot?

One of the common questions of families is what is the cause of clubfoot and why such a problem occurs in a baby's foot. The fact is that the exact cause of clubfoot has not yet been definitively determined. But research shows that a combination of genetic and environmental factors can play a role in the occurrence of this disorder.

One of the theories is that clubfoot is caused by the abnormal growth of tendons and ligaments during the fetal period. In this case, the tendons around the ankle are shorter than usual, and this causes the foot to pull inward or downward.

The genetic factor is also very prominent. If there is a history of clubfoot in the family, the probability of its occurrence in the baby increases. Of course, this does not mean that the transfer is certain, but only the risk increases.

Some environmental factors may also play a role, such as:

• restriction of fetal movement in the uterus (due to lack of amniotic fluid or abnormal position of the uterus)
• Some neuro-muscular problems
• Using some drugs during pregnancy (rarely of course)

The important thing is that parents should not blame themselves. In most cases, the exact cause of clubfoot is not known and has nothing to do with the mother's behavior during pregnancy.

Therefore, the answer to the question What is the cause of clubfoot is this: a set of genetic and environmental factors can play a role in its occurrence, but there is no definitive and single reason for it.

What is the cause of clubfoot?

When we ask what is the cause of clubfoot, we mean the cause of the change in the shape of the foot itself. As mentioned, one of the most important reasons is the abnormal growth of muscles, tendons and bones of the legs during pregnancy.

In a normal foot, there is a balance between internal and external muscles and tendons. But in the foot with clubfoot, the medial tendons become shorter and stiffer, pulling the bones inward. This issue causes the abnormal rotation of the foot.

In short:

• Tendons and ligaments: are short and tight.
• Bones: grow abnormally.
• Muscles: become weak or imbalanced.

These changes together make the foot unable to be in a smooth and natural position.

Many parents worry if something they did during pregnancy caused this problem or not. The answer is negative. The cause of clubfoot usually comes from internal and genetic factors and has nothing to do with parents' lifestyle.

For this reason, the most important action after birth is to focus on treatment so that the child's foot gradually improves.

Causes of clubfoot

When we talk about the causes of club foot, we mean a set of possible factors that can contribute to the occurrence of this disorder. Some of the most important causes are:

1. Genetics: Family history is one of the strongest risk factors. If one of the parents or close relatives has clubfoot, the probability of the child's disease increases.
2. Neuro-muscular problems: In some children, problems such as spina bifida or spinal disorders can be associated with clubfoot.
3. Environmental factors: A lack of amniotic fluid or abnormal pressure on the fetus in the womb may limit the movement of the legs and, as a result, change their shape.
4. Abnormal growth of tendons: The shortening and stiffness of the tendons around the ankle is one of the most important direct causes of foot deformity.

Despite these factors, it should be emphasized that in many cases, there is no known exact cause and clubfoot occurs as a congenital disorder without a known cause.

Is clubfoot hereditary?

One of the important questions of families is Is clubfoot hereditary? The answer is: Yes, in some cases, there can be a hereditary and genetic background. If one of the parents or family members has this disease, the probability that the child will be born with this problem increases.

However, clubfoot being hereditary does not mean that the transfer is 100%. Even in families with no history of clubfoot, a baby may be born with this problem. Therefore, genetics is only one of the risk factors and is not the definitive cause.

According to the research, if one of the parents has club foot, the probability of the child will be about 4%. If both parents are affected, this probability increases to about 15%.

In short:

• Clubfoot can be hereditary.
• But in many cases it occurs without any family history.
• Having a family history only increases the risk of infection.

Therefore, parents should not only worry about family history, but should focus on early diagnosis and timely treatment.

What are the symptoms of athlete's foot?

It is very important to know what are the symptoms of athlete's foot for early detection. The most important symptoms of this disease are:

• The foot or both feet are turned inwards or downwards.
• The sole of the foot cannot be placed flat on the ground.
• The leg is seen shorter and smaller than the normal leg.
• The ankle is stiff and has little flexibility.
• In severe cases, the sole of the foot rotates upwards or towards the leg.

These symptoms are usually visible at the moment of birth and no special test is needed for diagnosis. Doctors can easily identify the disease based on physical examination.

If these symptoms are ignored and treatment is not started, more problems will appear in the future. When walking, the child is forced to move on the side of the leg or its abnormal part, which over time causes pain, changes in the shape of the bones, and movement restrictions.

Types of clubfoot

Club foot is divided into several types depending on the severity and cause:

1. Idiopathic clubfoot (congenital): It is the most common type and occurs without a specific cause. The foot is deformed from the very beginning of birth.
2. Secondary foot club (nerve-muscular): This type is caused by other problems such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy and is usually more severe.
3. Positive Foot Club: It is caused by the abnormal position of the fetus in the womb or mechanical pressure. It is usually milder and easier to treat.

Knowing the types of clubfoot helps to choose the appropriate treatment method.