Talipes?

[crisscrosscranky]

When DD2 was born the HV noted a slight talipes to her right foot. We've been doing the massage she suggested but at 5 months it still doesn't seem to have corrected itself.

I have appt with GP this afternoon - what should I be asking for?

What position is babies foot in when you pull the leg down straight ?

It is normal for babies feet to "clap" together like that when the hips are bent up. Can you stretch the feet fully up and out the same on both sides ie. is it "correctable" ?

Just ask your gp to check out the feet. They will know what to look for. If the feet do not "correct" then a referral paediatric orthopaedics is what you need.

I couldn't get a picture and hold her legs up- she was not very cooperative! However her foot pretty much stays in the same position; perhaps marginally straighter but still on the wonk!

Thanks for your reply.

You need to ask for a referral to a specialist

Have a look on the steps website lots of info about talipes on there.

Usually they start by using the ponsetti method (if my memory serves me right). Basically they manipulate the foot and pot it to keep it in position.

There is other treatment after that but if it is mild I would guess she probably won't need that.

I would also suggest asking for a physiotherapist referral.

DS also had talipes which was spotted whilst we were still in hospital when he was born. He was referred to a children's physiotherapist who came out to see us at 4 weeks old.

My daughter was born with it on one foot. We are under a consultant still. Hers was a lot more severe and she was in a leg plaster for most of her first three years, she also has had three operations to correct. Her foot still turns in and up slightly. She walks, runs as normal. She also had some boots at some point as well that worked to correct it. Get referred to a good consultant.

My daughters feet were completely bent up and twisted around too. Looked horrendous. She took ages to walk (2 years) but she's totally normal now. Seemed to fix itself. She's now 12 and has no problems at all

The Ponseti method is only for club feet (not correctable)

A positional talipes or even a strong habit of turning the feet in (as long as fully correctable) would not require that

The gp should know the difference.

How did you get on with the gp ?

This might not come up as me being the original poster as I namechanged for another post earlier today but...

GP was very good. He's asked me to continue with massage- day and night- and take photos of it when she's relaxed. She was throwing a wobbly when we were there and kept kicking legs although he said he could see that there was still a slight inclination to bend the foot inward.

We have a follow up appt booked for 6 weeks time when he'll see if it's any better and refer to physio if not.

He also said to avoid using a jumperoo if we had one but as we don't he didn't elaborate on why!

Ds had bilateral talipes and used the Ponseti treatment of boots and a bar til he was 3. Plaster cast weekly from 1-4 weeks then boots and a bar for 23 hours a day for 10 months then 14 hours a day til he was 3.Also told no baby walker /similar. He is a fantastic footballing 9 yo now!!

Don't use a jumperoo or a baby walker as they will cause baby to weightbear on a bent foot

They are not generally recommended anyway as they put babies in positions they are not developmentally ready for and don't actually assist in reaching milestones at all