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Clubfoot Treatment in Gorakhpur: Expert Care at Saanvi Healthcare
Last week, a mother walked into my clinic at Saanvi Healthcare with tears in her eyes. She’d just had her baby boy, and his feet were turned inward. “Will he ever walk?” she asked me.
I get this question a lot. I’m Dr. Sapna Singh, and I work with kids and their development here in Gorakhpur. So let me tell you what I told her.
I get this question a lot. I’m Dr. Sapna Singh, and I work with kids and their development here in Gorakhpur. So let me tell you what I told her.
What Exactly Is Clubfoot?
Think of it this way. Your baby’s foot curves inward like a hockey stick. Sometimes one foot does this. Sometimes both. It happens before birth, while the baby is still growing inside.
Here’s the thing, though. Your newborn doesn’t feel pain from it. But left alone? Yes, it will cause trouble when they start walking.
How Do You Know It's Clubfoot?
You’ll see it right away. The foot looks twisted. It points down and to the side. When you touch it, the foot feels tight. You can’t easily move it back to normal.
Why Does This Happen?
Parents always ask me, “What did I do wrong?” The answer is nothing. You didn’t cause this.
Clubfoot happens when the tendons and tissues in the foot don’t grow properly during pregnancy. The muscles and tendons on the inside of the leg are too tight. They pull the foot inward.
Sometimes it runs in families. If you or your partner had clubfoot, your baby has a higher chance of having it too. Boys get it more than girls. We’re not sure why.
Some babies have it because of other conditions. But most of the time? It just happens. No reason. No one’s fault.
Sometimes it runs in families. If you or your partner had clubfoot, your baby has a higher chance of having it too. Boys get it more than girls. We’re not sure why.
Some babies have it because of other conditions. But most of the time? It just happens. No reason. No one’s fault.
Here's How We Actually Fix It
Good news first. We can fix clubfoot. Almost always. We use something called the Ponseti method. Big name, simple idea.
Step 1: The Casting Phase: We start by putting a cast on your baby’s leg and foot. Not the hard plaster kind that itches like crazy. These are gentler. Every week, we change the cast. Each time, we move the foot a tiny bit closer to where it should be. Why does this work? Baby bones are soft and flexible. The casts slowly stretch those tight tendons. Week by week, the foot turns outward. It’s like gently reshaping clay. This goes on for about six to eight weeks. Most babies need five or six casts total.
Step 2: The Quick Procedure: About 8 out of 10 babies need a quick snip of their Achilles tendon. That’s the cord at the back of the heel. It’s too tight and won’t let the foot move up properly. This takes five minutes. We use numbing medicine. The tendon grows back longer and looser in about three weeks. This is what lets the foot straighten all the way.
Step 3: The Bracing Phase: After the casts come off, your baby wears special boots. These boots connect with a bar. Looks a bit odd, but it works. For the first three months, babies wear them 23 hours a day. Then just at night and nap time. This goes on till about age three or four.
Why the bracing? Those tight tendons want to pull the foot back inward. The brace keeps everything in place while the foot grows stronger in its new position. Skip this part, and the clubfoot comes back. Stick with it, and your baby’s feet stay fixed. I treated a little girl named Priya last year. Both her feet had clubfoot. Her grandmother kept saying, “How will she ever get married with feet like this?” I showed them pictures of kids I’d treated before. Kids running. Kids playing cricket. Kids are doing everything normal kids do.
Priya finished her treatment six months ago. Her mom sent me a video last month of Priya taking her first steps. Not a single person would know she ever had clubfoot.
Step 1: The Casting Phase: We start by putting a cast on your baby’s leg and foot. Not the hard plaster kind that itches like crazy. These are gentler. Every week, we change the cast. Each time, we move the foot a tiny bit closer to where it should be. Why does this work? Baby bones are soft and flexible. The casts slowly stretch those tight tendons. Week by week, the foot turns outward. It’s like gently reshaping clay. This goes on for about six to eight weeks. Most babies need five or six casts total.
Step 2: The Quick Procedure: About 8 out of 10 babies need a quick snip of their Achilles tendon. That’s the cord at the back of the heel. It’s too tight and won’t let the foot move up properly. This takes five minutes. We use numbing medicine. The tendon grows back longer and looser in about three weeks. This is what lets the foot straighten all the way.
Step 3: The Bracing Phase: After the casts come off, your baby wears special boots. These boots connect with a bar. Looks a bit odd, but it works. For the first three months, babies wear them 23 hours a day. Then just at night and nap time. This goes on till about age three or four.
Why the bracing? Those tight tendons want to pull the foot back inward. The brace keeps everything in place while the foot grows stronger in its new position. Skip this part, and the clubfoot comes back. Stick with it, and your baby’s feet stay fixed. I treated a little girl named Priya last year. Both her feet had clubfoot. Her grandmother kept saying, “How will she ever get married with feet like this?” I showed them pictures of kids I’d treated before. Kids running. Kids playing cricket. Kids are doing everything normal kids do.
Priya finished her treatment six months ago. Her mom sent me a video last month of Priya taking her first steps. Not a single person would know she ever had clubfoot.
Start Early, Get Better Results
Baby bones are soft. That’s why starting young works so well. We’ve helped babies who were just one week old. The younger we start, the easier it gets.
So if you’re reading this and worried about your baby, call us. Don’t wait and see. Don’t hope it fixes itself. It won’t. Book your Appointment
Look, I know this is scary when you first hear about it. But I’ve been doing this for years at Saanvi Healthcare here in Gorakhpur. I’ve seen so many babies grow up to run around just like any other kid. Your baby can too.
Dr. Sapna Singh,
Pediatric Neurodevelopment,
Saanvi Healthcare, Gorakhpur
Come see us. We’ll help your little one get those feet pointing the right way.
Dr. Sapna Singh,
Pediatric Neurodevelopment,
Saanvi Healthcare, Gorakhpur
Come see us. We’ll help your little one get those feet pointing the right way.
FAQ
Will my kid walk like other kids?
Yes. After treatment, most kids walk totally normally. They play sports. They wear regular shoes. You wouldn’t know they had clubfoot.
Does the casting hurt my baby?
Not really. Babies fuss more about being hungry or needing a diaper change. The casts don’t hurt them.
How long before we're done with all this?
Casting takes about two months. The bracing part goes on longer, maybe till age four. But it’s just at night, so it doesn’t stop your kid from being a kid.
What if the foot turns back?
It can happen if you stop the bracing too soon. That’s why we need you to stick with the full plan. I know it’s hard, but it works.
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