Correcting Club Feet
60CHAPTER
565
Note: In Chapter 11 we discussed club feet. We suggest you read pages 114 and 116
before trying to correct a club foot.
The younger a child is when you begin, the more easily and quickly
her foot can be straightened. For best results, begin 2 days after the
baby is born. If the child is over 1 year old, usually a good correction
is only possible with surgery. Ways to predict how easy or difficult
correction may be for a particular child are listed on p. 116.
Method 1: STRAPPING
club foot
This method works well in a baby with mild to moderate clubbing, especially when
the foot can be put into a nearly normal position. The method is easier and cheaper
than casting, and sometimes gives better results. You will need:
• tincture of benzoin (to paint on the skin to
help the adhesive felt stick firmly. Zinc oxide
in the tincture will help protect the skin.)
• cotton wool
• adhesive surgical felt (padding) 8 mm. thick
and at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide
• adhesive tape (sticking plaster) or zinc oxide
strapping 2.5 cm. wide
1. Paint tincture of
benzoin on the skin
areas to be covered
by the tape.
2. Hold the baby’s
foot like this and
gently straighten
it as far as you can
without forcing.
3. With the knee
bent as far as
possible, stick
strips of felt
around the foot
and over the
knee and leg as
shown.
SIDE VIEW
FRONT VIEW
SIDE VIEW
4. Stretch adhesive
tape over the felt.
Start on the outer
side of the foot,
go around the
foot, up over
the knee, and
down the other
side. Use the
tape to pull
the foot into a
better position.
FRONT VIEW
Tape coming
down leg
ends here.
no tape
here
FRONT VIEW
5. Put a second piece of tape
around the leg twice here
to hold the first tape.
CAUTION: 10 minutes after
putting on the tape, check
to see if any part of the foot
has turned dark. It so, look
for the trouble spot and try
to adjust the strapping. If it
stays dark, take everything
off and start again.
Every 2 or 3 days, tighten the correction by stretching new tape over the old, in the same way.
On the 7th day, remove everything and leave the leg free until the next day. On the 8th day,
apply new felt and tape.
(Continued on next page.)