Corrective casting in infants

With the exception of talipes equinovarus, there has been an unfortunate tradition of treating infant foot deformities with benign neglect. Most often the physician who confidently assures the trusting parent that the problem will be outgrown is not present at a later time when symptoms develop and someone else must manage the condition. The simple fact that the same foot conditions observed in infants appear in equal or greater numbers in older age groups suggests that some children are not outgrowing this problem. The concept of preventive podiatric medicine has enjoyed greater popularity in theory than in practice. The best opportunity for a podiatrist to render preventive care is to identify deformities in the newborn and treat them early and vigorously so that the child's first steps are taken on perfectly normal feet. This article details the author's 25 years of experience in the use of a unique conservative therapy and is intended to encourage its use for every child with a foot or leg disorder.