The forefoot is turned inward compared to the hindfoot, and the feet have the appearance of a “Kipferl” or a sickle. Soft pigeon toes of babies are among the harmless baby foot deformities. By certain handling that is done by the mother everytime when winding, the feet can be made completely normal again.
For rigid pigeon toes in infants a certain forming gypsum is used, and for young children so-called anti-varus shoes are used, i.e. track shoes so that the foot is directed towards the right position. Also plastic night splints can be used to positively influence stronger initial deformities.
Massive and therapy-resistant pigeon toes can be corrected surgically, for example when a poorly placed bone (os medial cuneiform) is rebuilt and this will put the foot straight.
Sometimes it is particularly necessary in older children and young adults to split all five metatarsal bones at the base for straightening. Fixation is done using wires, screws or plates. A cast must then be applied, and rest for 6 weeks.
Pigeon toes of a baby. The initial treatment with stimulation (leading to stretching of the "right" muscles) and manual transformation is done by the parents themselves after each winding.
In infants with rigid pigeon toes we use a so-called redressing cast.
Older children get special, so-called anti-varus shoes in combination with night splints.