Clubfoot: About the Deformity, Prevention and Treatment

"World Clubfoot Day, which takes place annually on June 3rd, is a special time of celebration for families
with children having clubfeet. The date was chosen to commemorate the birthdate of Dr. Ignacio
Ponseti, (1914-2009), the developer of the Ponseti Method to treat clubfoot, which is a low-cost, non-
surgical approach.

Clubfoot is a congenital condition (present at birth) that causes a baby’s foot to turn inward or
downward. In babies who have clubfoot, the tendons that connect their leg muscles to their heel are too
short. These tight tendons cause the foot to twist out of shape.In Ponseti technique, stretching is used
in combination with a cast to treat the clubfoot.

Clubfoot is the most common musculoskeletal birth deformity in children, affecting 200,000 newborn
children each year, 80 percent in developing countries. There are also hundreds of thousands of children
and young adults who are living with this debilitating condition worldwide. The Ponseti Method is nearly
100 percent effective when properly applied by a trained health care provider and is considered the
"gold standard" treatment, leading to a normal, productive life.

Rainbow Children's Hospital, Bengaluru, the Department of Pediatric Orthopedics observed the day to
further the belief that every child born with clubfoot is entitled to treatment using this approach. On
June 2nd, around 60 children with clubfeet, along with their families, gathered at the hospital premises
to observe this day. They participated in various activities such as lemon spoon race and balloon
bursting, followed by a graduation ceremony. All the children received medals of honour with the
picture of Dr. Ponseti on them.

The Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Rainbow Children's Hospitals are the pioneers in the
treatment of congenital clubfoot. Dr. Jayanth Sampath and his team have treated more than 1000
clubfeet over the past 15 years, and around 250 clubfeet in the past 2 years. Because of the team's hard
work and dedication, these children are now running free from disability.