What is Clubfoot?
Clubfoot is a condition that inverts the foot, oftentimes to the point that it is fully sideways or even facing upwards. It is caused by a shortened Achilles tendon (the one that connects your heel to your calf). In most cases, clubfoot occurs completely on its own–no genetic patterns or underlying conditions can be identified to point to its cause. In other cases, genetics are the clearest contributors to clubfoot. Someone with siblings, parents, or even distant relatives with clubfoot is more susceptible to the condition. In a very small number of cases, clubfoot originates from an underlying genetic condition, such as trisomy 18, also known as Edwards Syndrome. Trisomy 18 is a disorder in which babies are born with three copies of chromosome 18, of which there are no known causes.
If it goes untreated, clubfoot can have devastating physical, social, economic impacts on one’s life. Because a clubfoot patient’s feet would be turned almost entirely inwards, they would not be able to walk–or even if they could somehow find a way, it would be extremely painful and slow. Not being able to walk, or move at all in some cases, significantly hurts your chances at accessing education, finding a job, and maintaining a sustainable income. That is why many clubfoot patients remain under their parents’ or family’s care for a large portion of their adult lives. Additionally, people, especially children, with untreated clubfoot can face severe bullying and discrimination. Studies have found that the children who are attending school with clubfoot are often excluded by classmates, described as “vulgar and obscene,” and heavily stigmatized.
The Ponseti Method, developed and coined by Dr. Igancio Ponseti in the 1950s, has been the most effective form of clubfoot treatment for decades. It requires a series of castings to slowly and subtly reposition a baby’s foot back to normal. The method can easily be picked up by local community leaders, medical students, or anyone willing to help provide treatment to clubfoot patients.
Considering all expenses, including materials for casts, braces, and any necessary procedures, just $500 is needed to fully treat clubfoot in a single patient. In spite of this, there are still just under 100 countries that are not using the Ponseti Method to treat clubfoot because they lack the resources to do so. As a result, members of these nations suffering from clubfoot are not receiving adequate treatment, and thus are forced to live with the condition for extended periods of time.
Barriers to Accessing Clubfoot Treatment
Our Research
Barriers to Accessing Clubfoot Treatment in South Africa
Anderman, J., & DeMaio, A. (2024). Barriers to Accessing Clubfoot Treatment in South Africa. Journal of Student Research, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v13i2.6742
In this journal review, I explored the barriers to accessing clubfoot treatment in South Africa. By analyzing four relevant studies from PubMed, I identified key obstacles like the distance to treatment facilities, limited awareness of the condition, and logistical challenges. These barriers highlight significant issues faced by patients, but more research is needed to understand additional barriers in different regions. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve accessibility and reduce disparities in care delivery.