On average, it costs $385 for Sokim's treatment
- Symptoms
- Impact on patient's life
- Cultural or regional significance
​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?
Patients with clubfoot experience difficulty walking, as the affected foot or feet are rotated internally at the ankle.
​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?
Patients with clubfoot walk on the side of their feet or ankles, making it difficult for them to walk, run, or use stairs. It can also be difficult to conduct daily activities, such as working or going to school. Patients may also experience decreased self-confidence due to the appearance of the condition.
What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?
Access to affordable or free surgery is limited in Cambodia, so the prevalence of children with clubfoot is higher than in developed countries.
- Process
- Impact on patient's life
- Risks and side-effects
- Accessibility
- Alternatives
What does the treatment process look like?
If a patient is too old to receive clubfoot correction through casts, braces, or other treatments, he or she will undergo surgery. The patient may undergo a soft tissue release surgery, a tendon transfer surgery, a triple arthrodesis, or an Ilizarov correction procedure.
What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?
The ankle is corrected and aligned so the patient can walk normally on the soles of his or her feet. This improves mobility and function.
What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?
Treatment for idiopathic newborn clubfeet has a high success rate. In contrast, syndromic newborn clubfeet have a high recurrence rate and may require further surgery later in life.
For neglected clubfeet in older patients, surgery is needed and is usually effective.
How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?
Access to affordable or free surgery is limited in Cambodia. Patients travel from as many as 12 hours away to reach our medical partner for free surgery. They travel with family members.
What are the alternatives to this treatment?
Most of the clubfoot cases our medical partner sees are neglected cases. The patient may have never received treatment, may have received unsuccessful treatments, or may have a reoccurring condition. By the time the patient arrives at our medical partner, there are no alternatives.