On average, it costs $1,422 for Lionel's treatment
- Symptoms
- Impact on patient's life
- Cultural or regional significance
​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?
Patients diagnosed with clubfoot have one or both feet turned inward, which might lead to complex extremity malformations, walking limitations, tight heel cord, and pain during walking.
​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?
Patients diagnosed with clubfoot might experience pain while walking or not be able to walk, might not be able to wear shoes, and end up being subject to bullying at school. If the condition is not treated, the patient might be in constant pain and it’s possible to develop arthritis.
What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?
Many patients in Colombia live in rural areas, their families don’t have health insurance coverage nor money to pay for the treatment, they don’t have access to specialized centers, and have to travel long distances, which leads families to abandon the treatments.
- Process
- Impact on patient's life
- Risks and side-effects
- Accessibility
- Alternatives
What does the treatment process look like?
When patients visit a doctor, they are redirected to a pediatric orthopedist, who starts the treatment with some casts which are changed weekly and later performs a low invasive surgery when early diagnosed. In case the patient is not treated opportunely, or treatment is abandoned, reconstructive surgery might be needed.
What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?
When the patient gets the treatment, an anatomic and functional correction of the extremity is performed, the patient will be able to wear shoes and to walk without pain, there’s an esthetic improvement which leads to stronger self-esteem and reduces the risk of psychological affections resulting from bullying.
What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?
There’s a chance this treatment leaves residual malformations, scars, or relapses of the treatment. As in any surgery, there is a risk of bleeding and infection.
How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?
In the country, it’s hard to have access to good health insurance coverage, is rare that patients are driven to a specialized institution, and even when they are, families don’t have enough money to pay for the treatment.
What are the alternatives to this treatment?
Reconstructive surgery with highly complex osteotomies and tendon transfers.
