Pediatric Foot & Ankle Care

Pediatric Foot & Ankle Care at Golisano Children's Hospital

Foot problems and injuries can interfere with your child’s ability to stand, walk, run and play. As a parent, you want your child to grow up healthy and strong so they can participate in activities that bring them joy. That’s what we want, too.

At Golisano Children's Hospital at University of Vermont Health, our skilled team of specialists offers advanced care for all types of pediatric foot problems. Our health system is home to Vermont and northern New York’s only pediatric orthopedic surgeon trained to treat clubfoot, a rare congenital foot deformity. Trust your child’s treatment to our experienced and compassionate team of foot and ankle surgeons, podiatrists and advanced practice providers.

A rehabilitation therapist stretches a patient's ankle and foot.

Why Choose Golisano Children's Hospital

As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:

Exclusive access to treatment: Our team includes the only orthopedic surgeon in Vermont and northern New York trained to manage clubfoot. This specialist uses the Ponseti technique, a proven method of bracing and casting that corrects clubfoot in infants without invasive surgery.
Pediatric experts: Foot and ankle surgeons partner with pediatric orthopedic specialists to provide full-spectrum treatment. We have the only pediatric orthopedics team in the region with an exclusive focus on treating children and adolescents throughout their entire care journey.
Extra support: We offer specialty pediatric clinical services and support services such as the Child Life Program. Child Life specialists support children through hospitalizations and medical procedures with age-appropriate therapeutic play and calming techniques.
Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers. We are at the forefront of research into foot and ankle care.

Conditions We Treat

Our team treats a wide range of pediatric foot and ankle problems, from minor issues to complex congenital conditions. We care for children with:

Ankle and foot injuries: Tendon and ligament tears, sprains and fractures
Flatfoot: A very low arch that can cause pain and instability
Foot pain: Chronic (ongoing) discomfort affecting the middle and front parts of the foot
Foot and ankle deformities: Irregularities in the structure of the ankle or foot that are present at birth. These include clubfoot, a severely twisted foot.

Specializing in Clubfoot Treatment

Golisano Children's Hospital is the only medical system in Vermont and northern New York that uses the Ponseti technique to treat clubfoot in infants. The Ponseti technique is a strategic treatment approach that involves a series of braces and casts to correct clubfoot without surgery. The treatment includes two phases:

Treatment phase: Ideally, your baby will receive a custom-made cast within the first week after birth. The cast holds the affected foot in a more optimal position, gently and gradually reshaping it. Babies typically need up to six different casts over several weeks. After this series of casts, most babies need a procedure to lengthen the Achilles tendon. This allows for a better range of motion in the ankle.
Maintenance phase: After the last cast and Achilles tendon surgery, your baby will wear a special removable brace for their first few years of life. They wear the brace for 23 hours a day for the first three months, then only at night for the next three to four years. Your child sees our pediatric orthopedist regularly to monitor their foot alignment, mobility and function. Your child’s orthopedic specialist will let you know when they can stop wearing the brace.