Foot & Lower Extremities

The Pediatric Orthopedic Specialty Center has pediatric orthopedic surgeons who specialize in treating congenital and acquired foot and lower limb conditions, deformities and injuries. Congenital foot defects—such as club foot, flat foot, hooked foot, hammer toes and polydactyly (extra toe) —and acquired foot injuries—such as fractures, dislocations, nerve injuries and trauma—are treated by the orthopedic care team. Advanced surgical techniques are used to restore foot function and correct foot and limb deformity and deficiency.

Evaluation & Diagnostic Care

A physicial exam and review of patient’s medical history will help the orthopedic surgeon determine if the hand condition is congenital or acquired. Ortho diagnostic care will ensure proper diagnosis for this congenital or acquired hand condition. Some of these tests are done in the Imaging Center. Early detection is important for successful treatment.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Treatment often begins with non-surgical methods such as manipulation, bracing and casting to correct the deformity and stiffness as early as possible. The foot is manipulated into the correct position and then placed in a brace or cast to stay in the corrected position, depending on the level of acuity. Serial casting often will help correct the deformity in newborns. If non-surgical techniques don’t correct the condition, a surgical procedure is typically performed.

Club Foot - Ponseti Treatment

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the most frequent treatment used to correct club foot in the U.S. is a non-surgical treatment called the "Ponseti" method.

• Sequential corrective casting begins at birth and continues on a weekly basis until the forefoot and midfoot are corrected
• After corrective casting, a heel cord tenotomy is done and the remainder of the deformity is corrected with manipulation and casting.
• After two to three weeks of casting, the patient is started on a program of splinting, using a bar and shoe apparatus and physical therapy.

Surgical Treatment

Surgical correction can begin on your child when casting no longer improves the condition, often as early as 3 months of age. Foot and lower extremity surgeries take place in the Surgical Center.