Clubfoot (CTEV) in Newborns: A Parent’s Complete Guide to Treatment and What Happens If It Is Delayed

Clubfoot, medically known as Congenital Talipes Equinovarus or CTEV, is one of the most common birth defects affecting the musculoskeletal system. In India, approximately 1 in every 500 live births results in clubfoot. If your newborn has been diagnosed with CTEV, you likely have questions you need answered urgently. This guide covers everything you need to know about clubfoot treatment in Hisar, what the Ponseti method involves, and why early treatment makes all the difference.

What Is CTEV and How Is It Diagnosed?

In a child with clubfoot, one or both feet are twisted inward and downward at birth. The foot cannot be placed flat on the ground in its natural position. It is caused by abnormal muscle, tendon, and bone development in the womb. Importantly, CTEV is not caused by anything the mother did or did not do during pregnancy.

Diagnosis is often made at birth by the attending paediatrician. In some cases, it may even be spotted on an antenatal ultrasound. Once diagnosed, the most important next step is getting to a CTEV doctor in Hisar as quickly as possible, ideally within the first 1 to 2 weeks of life.

The Ponseti Method: Gold Standard for Clubfoot Treatment

The Ponseti method is the internationally accepted, evidence-based approach to CTEV treatment. At Orthomed Hospital, we follow this protocol closely. Here is how it works:

• Week 1-2: Assessment and first plaster cast applied, gently correcting the foot toward a more normal position
• Week 3-4: Cast changed weekly as foot gradually repositions
• Week 5-6: Most feet require a small procedure called an Achilles tenotomy, a minor cut to the Achilles tendon done under local anaesthesia
• Week 7-8: Final cast applied for 3 weeks after tenotomy
• After casting: Child wears a boots-and-bar brace (Denis Browne splint) full-time for 3 months, then at night until age 4 to 5 years

The entire active treatment phase for a newborn takes roughly 8 to 10 weeks. It is non-surgical, effective, and produces excellent long-term outcomes when started early.

What Happens If CTEV Treatment Is Delayed?

This is the question that matters most for many families who live in smaller towns or who were not informed early. Here is what the research and our clinical experience at Orthomed Hospital shows:

• Treated at birth to 2 weeks: Excellent outcomes with Ponseti alone, usually no surgery needed
• Treated at 2 to 6 months: Ponseti still works well but may require more casts and a higher chance of tenotomy
• Treated at 6 months to 2 years: More complex, may require additional surgical procedures alongside casting
• Treated after 2 years: Surgery becomes significantly more involved; outcomes less predictable

The bones in a newborn’s foot are still mostly cartilage. They respond beautifully to gentle, consistent correction. As a child ages, those cartilage structures calcify into bone, making reshaping far more difficult and requiring more invasive interventions.

Does Clubfoot Require Surgery?

With the Ponseti method started early, over 95 percent of clubfoot cases can be treated without major surgery. The Achilles tenotomy done as part of Ponseti is a minor procedure, not the kind of open surgery parents worry about. However, if treatment is delayed or the child was not treated correctly initially, surgical reconstruction of tendons, ligaments, and sometimes bones may be required. This is why accessing a reliable CTEV doctor in Hisar at the right time is so important.

Long-Term Outlook for Children Treated at Orthomed

Children who receive proper clubfoot treatment in Hisar from an early age go on to live completely normal lives. They can walk, run, play sports, and wear standard footwear. There is no limitation on physical activity with successful treatment. Our pediatric orthopedic team at Orthomed Hospital follows children through their growth years to catch any signs of relapse early, which is most common between ages 1 and 4.

Why Orthomed Hospital for Clubfoot Treatment in Hisar?

Dr. Sanjay Arora’s fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics means families in Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, and surrounding districts do not need to travel to Delhi for specialised CTEV care. We have managed multiple clubfoot cases across age groups and follow evidence-based protocols for every patient.