Guest guest Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 From my understanding, all babies are born without any heel definition. This comes later, and this is what causes some problems early on with keeping the feet in the DBB. Without the heel definition, there's nothing there to help hold the foot in the shoe, therefore, it slips out a lot easier. There is a plastizoid insert that can go in right above the heel to help hold the foot in the shoe. I understand it also helps the heel form since it keeps the heel from being right against the back of the shoe. The heel does eventually form. My son is 7-months old and there is heel definition there now. Not sure if there's more to come with that, but there's definitely more there than when he was born. The newer Markell shoes have a deeper pocket at the heel to help allow heel formation since the shoes are on so early for so long. and BCF 03/25/2004 DBB 23/7 On 10/24/2004 8:57:16 AM, nosurgery4clubfoot wrote: > I read in a post and Dr. Herzenberg is always talking about the " empty " > heel. Does a clubfoot have no heel at all? There never will be one? > Does > this mean anything significant for them in the future? > > > > > > Mommy to 12/17/98 > > and Christian 1/30/04 LCF - DBB 23/7 > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Elijah has this trait too.. but as time goes on, it seems to 'fill in' a little like our Dr has said it would. Dont quote me on this, but I think it has something to do w/ the actual density of the bones. Ive been able to compare xrays of Elijah CF and unaffected foot and the bones in the unaffected foot are much more white on the xray. Our Dr says that as time goes by and we retrain the foot to grow straight, the heel will become more sturdy. Lori Mom to 13 Nova 8 Ethan 2 and Elijah RCF w/ plantaris DBB 23/7 > > I read in a post and Dr. Herzenberg is always talking about > the " empty " > > heel. Does a clubfoot have no heel at all? There never will be > one? Does > > this mean anything significant for them in the future? > > > > > > > > > > > > Mommy to 12/17/98 > > > > and Christian 1/30/04 LCF - DBB 23/7 > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 I missed the beginning discussion of this.. so I apologize if I've got the topic wrong, but.. It's very common, I believe, for a well treated clubfoot heel to feel empty, or " smushy " , for lack of a better word, at least early on, in comparison to a normal heel, but this doesn't mean there's anything wrong. (To try to describe it, I'd say a clubfoot heel can feel much like the fleshy part of the palm of your hand under your thumb, as opposed to, say, the firmer middle of your palm.) My daughter has unilateral left cf. After full correction, by Dr. Ponseti, the bottom of her heel felt softer than her other heel. Dr. Ponseti told me this was nothing to worry about and that it would improve as she grew, and bore weight, and so if has. Her function and flexibility have always been great. Again, I apologize if this was not what you were discussing. and Claire, age 4 > > I do want to check it (empty heel) for my child of 6 months having > Bi. CF. Is there any trick to find out whether he have this problem > or not. > > please help me in this regard as there is no Ponseti trained doctor > in Karachi, Pakistan. > > Regards > Shahid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2004 Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 Shahid, You said that your doctor feels the feet are corrected well and will be functional and flexible. Do you feel confident in him? Do your son's feet stay well in the brace shoes? Is he comfortable and used to wearing them? Do both feet seem corrected to you, even if slightly different? They should look straight and plantigrade, and even a bit overcorrected (pointed outward). It's good he has dorsiflexion. If you are fairly confident, I would wait and see. The crease might well disappear. Perhaps it's extra skin or due to a chubby baby foot. At 6 months my daughter's didn't look totally perfect, even though Dr. Ponseti assured us it was well corrected. It was a bit lumpy and of course had extra skin on the side. It slimmed down, though, as she grew, especially as she began to bear weight, the extra skin went away, and improved significantly in appearance over time. Now it truly is almost impossible to tell anything was ever different about it. If you have doubts, though, and persistent worries, I'd say not to ignore them and perhaps try to get another opinion, even from afar, by sending email pictures to another doctor. Hope this helps. and Claire > and Claire, > > You pictured it correctly. > > On the back of the heel? Yes > Not on the sole of the foot? Yes > Do the feet have good dorsiflexion? yes > The ability to lift the toes up with the heel staying > down? yes > > Please comment. > > Regards > Shahid > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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