Foot

Torsion

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Braces, special shoes and physical therapy aren't effective treatments for in-toeing or out-toeing.

Surgery is the only intervention that can alter the shape of the lower limbs in a child with in-toeing or out-toeing. The thighbone (femur) or other bones of the leg (the tibia and the fibula) are cut and rotated so that the feet align properly. Metal implants -- typically pins or a plate and screws - keep the bones in place while they heal in their new orientation.

This type of surgery is called rotational osteotomy. It is a major operation with the risk of complications that include:

• Bleeding and Infection -- These risks commonly are associated with orthopedic operations.

• Implant Failure -- The metal implants can dislodge from the bone. When this happens, the correction is lost and the implants must be replaced.

• Injury to the Blood Supply to the Hip -- While this occurs in well under 10 percent of the children who undergo surgery, it can have devastating consequences to hip function, including painful arthritis and stiffness.

Although surgery is the only way to change severe in-toeing or out-toeing, the benefits have to be carefully weighed against the risks for each child.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007