Child's squint in the child: treatment, causes, diagnosis and prevention

One of the serious congenital or acquired defects is the child's slanting. Treatment is compulsory. Otherwise, you lose the opportunity to walk on your own and walk evenly, which can subsequently lead to arthritis and unavoidable surgical intervention. Thanks to advances in medical science, there are certain procedures for patients suffering from this disorder. With the correct treatment of clubfoot, most patients will be able to restore their feet 100%, walk normally and even engage in athletics.

Absence of discomfort at the initial stage

Congenital musculoskeletal deformities affect about 200,000 children every year. The cause of this defect is still unknown. Experts believe that this disorder excludes the possibility of appearance due to an incorrect position of the fetus inside the uterus. However, this ailment is associated with skeletal anomalies, including spina bifida. What should I do if there is such a problem as clubfoot in a child? To treat or will pass or take place? It is important to keep in mind that this disease does not cause pain or discomfort in the baby at the initial stage, it continues to develop normally until it begins to walk.

Kozolapie in children: causes, signs and treatment

Strabism occurs when the feet and ankles are constantly twisted. In this case, the ligaments and tendons keep the muscles on the bone too tightly. This causes the ankles to move and to be at rest in an abnormal position. Where does the clubfoot appear in children? The causes (treatment is necessary in any case) of the occurrence are unclear. A certain risk exists if there are the following factors:

1. Male. It was noted that the disease affects more boys than girls.
2. Smoking of a woman during pregnancy (both active and passive).
3. Heredity. The probability of the birth of a child with pathology increases if the family already had similar cases.
4. Injuries to the spinal cord. Diseases associated with the spine can also cause squint.

General symptoms

The most common signs of this disease are the following:

• The feet are partially or completely turned inside.
• In those cases where only one leg is deformed, it is usually shorter than the other.
• The calf muscles on the leg are not fully developed.
• In some extreme cases, the foot is completely turned in the opposite direction.

The condition is determined by doctors at birth or even before it. Diagnosis is made before or during labor.

It's hard not to notice

If a child's clumsy is found in the child, treatment is necessary? Definitely, yes. This disorder can easily be identified right away at birth.

If a child's kosolapia was diagnosed, the treatment will be administered depending on the degree of defeat of the limbs. In the case of a slight curvature by an orthopedic doctor, measures are taken to gradually change the shape of the foot (massage, plastering, use of special footwear and corrective equipment). More complex cases, as a rule, require surgical intervention.

Treatment options: Ponseti method

In the event that a clubfoot is detected in children, the treatment will depend on the severity of the disease. There are a number of available options for therapy after diagnosis. It is important to take action as soon as possible to take advantage of the flexibility of children's joints and bones. This will allow specialists to carry out the necessary manipulations more successfully. One of the highly effective ways to treat clubfoot is today the Ponseti method.

To change the irregular shape of the foot, special plaster casts from the toes to the groin are applied weekly. Such procedures can be performed as long as necessary to achieve a normal bone position. Within six to eight weeks, the clubfoot can be corrected without surgery. This method is most successful for those who have been treated for the first two weeks of life, and for patients with slight curvature.

Importance of early detection

As mentioned above, the detection of this disease at birth is not difficult, doctors can notice it, just by looking at the feet of the baby. Depending on the severity of the disease, a decision is made on the procedure for further action, including an X-ray study. If a child's kosolapia has been diagnosed, treatment should be started at the earliest stage. Otherwise, it can lead to a functional disability, which will certainly require surgical intervention at a later stage. A huge advantage of early treatment is that in most cases it is possible to achieve remarkable results, up to the complete disappearance of the signs of clubfoot.

Surgical intervention

What other methods of treatment exist, and how to correct clubfoot in a child with a severe degree of curvature? Only a surgeon can help here. During the operation, the Achilles tendon is lengthened near the heel and the tissues are removed in another place of the foot. Also, if necessary, the tendon itself can be transferred.

With the help of specially made cuts, the tightness of ligaments and tendons is weakened, and the surgeon can already move his leg to its normal position. Bones and joints of older children and adults are often less flexible than those of newborns, so several operations may be required to correct clubfoot. Sometimes metal plates or screws are used to hold the foot in the correct position. The position is fixed, and then the surgeon puts a plaster on the entire leg. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. Cure with pain after surgery can help drug treatment.

Physiotherapy: recovery of muscle tone

Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the success of getting rid of such an unpleasant phenomenon as childbearing in children. Treatment, postoperative exercises are also very important, since they help restore flexibility, expand range of movements and increase muscle tone.

Many patients have weakly developed gastrocnemius muscles in the affected leg. Even after surgery, they may not recover to a healthy state. In some cases, it is necessary to wear a fixation bandage, which will help to keep the legs in a normal position and will facilitate normal movement.

Prospects

Children who undergo such operations can lead an active and lively lifestyle, but nevertheless it is worthwhile to behave more cautiously. Potential risks associated with surgical intervention include nerve damage in the leg, excessive swelling of the foot, interruption of blood flow to the limb, formation of abscesses.

The most common complaint in people after treatment is the stiffness of the foot and ankle joint. Over time, it can develop into arthritis. With age, the risk increases that a second operation will be necessary. The most successful way to get rid of such a foot defect, as a clubfoot in a child, is treatment at an early stage.

How is the clumsy diagnosed?

The doctor diagnoses at birth with visual inspection. If we are talking about an older child, then the history of its development is revealed, since it can be associated with other neuromuscular disorders. Sometimes further medical supervision is required to assess underlying problems. Diagnostic procedures may include:

• X-ray, which uses invisible electromagnetic rays to obtain images of internal tissues, bones and organs;
• Computed tomography is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce a cross-sectional image of the body horizontally and vertically (CT shows detailed images of any part of the body, including bones, muscles, fat and internal organs).

Affected feet can be flexible, in this case we are talking about positional clubfoot. This type of problem is caused by the incorrect position of the child in the uterus. As a rule, the issue is solved without operations. True clubfoot is stiff, with her to exercise any manipulation with the foot is quite problematic. Symptoms may resemble other foot diseases. Always consult a doctor for proper diagnosis.

Preventive measures

What can produce a positive effect after the operation that corrects the clubfoot in children (treatment)? Massage is an excellent preventive tool, it will also be useful after all the therapeutic procedures. This is a very effective procedure that allows you to adjust the position of the foot. It is recommended to do rotational and rectifying movements of the feet, neatly stretch the heel tendon. Massage can be done by a doctor, at the same time it is recommended to combine it with restorative whole body massage and physiotherapy exercises.

To prevent clubfoot and flat feet, you can perform exercises such as walking on socks and heels, walking barefoot on an orthopedic mat, squats, climbing stairs without shoes. During training, it is important to ensure that the baby's socks are not directed into the foot. Any motor activity should be accompanied by a good mood and no pain.