Kids MD

KIDS MD Newborn Foot Deformities

By Dr. Joseph Kahn

When babies are born, parents usually check them from head to foot, counting fingers and toes. It’s common to see newborn feet sometimes appear crooked, often due to crowding in the uterine space – after all, babies are squished in a small space as they grow. Less commonly, though, some foot deformities are due to a developmental or genetic condition.

The two most common newborn foot deformities are metatarsus adductus (in toeing) and calcaneovalgus (out toeing).

Metatarsus adductus is a curve in the midfoot. Regardless of how much of a curve there is, it’s important to note whether the foot is flexible and can be moved to a normal-appearing position. This condition usually improves within six to 12 months. Although there is no evidence that stretching the foot helps, many physicians recommend it, many parents do it and there’s certainly no harm done.

Calcaneovalgus is the opposite; the foot is pushed out and a little up. Like in toeing, this condition usually resolves within one year, and stretching often is done.

Clubfoot is a more serious condition that occurs in about 1 in every 1,000 newborns and is thought to have a genetic component. A clubfoot has a high arch and turns inward with toes pointed down and back. The foot and the Achilles tendon, located behind the ankle, are both stiff. Your newborn’s physician should notice this during a regular exam, and your baby will likely be referred for treatment by a pediatric orthopedic specialist. Often serial casting will resolve the condition, although surgery is sometimes needed.

Parents may notice some children with normal feet may toe in, often referred to as being pigeon-toed, when they begin to walk late in the first year and early in the second year of life. This is commonly caused by tibial torsion – inward twisting of the tibia, a bone in the lower leg. In toeing in an older child, ages 3 to 6 years, is more likely due to inward turning of the femur, the large bone in the upper leg. Both conditions are relatively common, tend to run in families and rarely need treatment. It’s important to avoid unnecessary treatments such as corrective shoes, bracing inserts and the like, as those have been shown to be ineffective.

Discuss any foot or leg concerns you may have with your pediatrician or a pediatric orthopedist. For more information, visit mercy.net/laduenews and search for “pediatric orthopedics.” ln Dr. Joseph Kahn is president of Mercy Kids (mercykids.org), an expansive network of pediatric care dedicated to meeting the needs of every child, every day.

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Suntrup Ford Kirkwood celebrates 25 years

Sponsored content by McKayla Mills, Brand Ave. Studios contributing writer

Suntrup Ford Kirkwood is celebrating its 25th year of being part of the Kirkwood community. For 2½ decades, the family-owned business has served its customers by offering new and used Ford vehicles, as well as service and parts and body shop for their Ford cars and trucks, all with memorable customer service that keeps their customers coming back.

Owner Tom Suntrup says he looks forward to celebrating the anniversary and showing his appreciation and gratitude to the company’s employees and customers.

“I’m really proud of the milestone we have reached at Suntrup Ford Kirkwood — celebrating our 25th anniversary, ” he says. “We could not have achieved this without our most valuable asset, which is our employees.”

Suntrup Ford Kirkwood is conveniently located off of Manchester Road, just east of Lindbergh, in the Kirkwood area of St. Louis. It is one of four dealerships in the area owned by Tom Suntrup, the other three being Volvo Cars West County, Suntrup Buick GMC and Suntrup Ford Westport. Suntrup Ford boasts excellent customer service along with stateof-the-art facilities and an ever-expanding selection of Ford vehicles. Customers can browse used and new vehicles, including Ford’s new line of electric vehicles, which Suntrup explains is currently a popular choice among consumers.

“Ford has a great line of vehicles, and they’re really on the cutting edge of the electric vehicles coming out,” he says.

Some of the most anticipated Ford vehicles customers have begun to reserve and purchase are the 2022 Ford F-150 EV Lightning, the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E and the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport EV. The team looks forward to an expanding selection of all new Ford vehicles available to their customers, including a number of exciting electric options being released by the manufacturer.

In addition to vehicle sales, Suntrup Ford Kirkwood has full service, parts and collision repair centers, all staffed with knowledgeable, friendly employees and with the goal of keeping its customers’ completed satisfied. Suntrup acknowledges the company’s loyal customers and dedicated employees as the reason for 25 years of success. “Our customers are loyal to us because our employees are always putting great customer satisfaction as a No. 1 priority.” On this anniversary, Suntrup hopes to recognize some of Suntrup Ford Kirkwood’s longest-tenured employees, who have been essential to the company’s achievements. For more information about sales, service, parts or collision at Suntrup Ford Kirkwood, visit suntrupfordkirkwood.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SUNTRUP FORD KIRKWOOD PHOTO PROVIDED BY SUNTRUP FORD KIRKWOOD

ALMA GANTNEY CFO 25 years PERRY GAMBINO Fix Operations 25 years GERRY ANDRACSEK Parts 25 years ED DELFOSSE Service 25 years ERIC PROEMSEY Sales 22 years MIKE MOXLEY Service 22 years CHAD BOXDORFER Service 22 years KEVIN LUPO Sales 21 years TRACI WALSH Office 19 years ADAM GREENLEE Parts 19 years KIRK LATTA Sales 17 years TRACY GREENLEE Office 16 years PATTY MOSELEY Office 13 years DAVE GIBSON Sales 12 years TIM WALSH Sales 9 years KEVIN RUZICKA Fleet 9 years ZAC PARKS Service 9 years CRYSTAL HOERCHLER E-Commerce 8 years COLETTE CARNAHAN Service 7 years TAMMY KORMAN Bodyshop 5 years