Clubfoot, which is medically known as genovarum and tibia varra, is a alignment abnormality in the lower limb, the cause of which can be a change in the direction or mechanical axis of the femur to its articular part and the tibia at the knee (metaphysis and epiphysis) or in the tibia shaft.
The cause may be a growth plate disorder during childhood; which is sometimes seen genetically.
Fractures of the bone shaft or near the joint surface are also among its causes.
This deformity is seen in middle age or old age due to the destruction of the cartilage of the knee articular surfaces or the subsidence of the bone on the inner surface of the joint.
Sometimes, clubfoot is more commonly seen in sports such as football, which Cook has been actively involved in since a young age; if the referral is at the peak of athletic age (15 to 30 years old), corrective surgery will lower the level of sports and is not recommended for these professional athletes.
In terms of appearance, alignment, and mechanical axis, it is divided into mild, moderate, severe, and sometimes intermediate forms.
Most cases in infants up to two years of age are corrected during growth; however, if specific radiological changes or gradual failure to improve are observed, orthosis or technical orthopedic braces are used.
In adolescence, especially before puberty, correction can be achieved well with small surgical operations at the growth plate level.
Surgical operations in adulthood are recommended, since bone healing and fusion require a period of 3 to 6 months, and during this period, a lot of disability occurs for the patient; mostly in young people between 20 and 40 years of age who have severe deformities and are not professional athletes.
Due to the extent of the correction operation that must be performed on the patient's shin bone; in patients over 50 years of age and reduced joint space, it is recommended that the correction of the deformity be performed with a final joint replacement surgery.
