The forefoot of a kid with metatarsus adductus is curled inward, with the “bend” happening in the middle of the foot. The toes point inward, and the largest and second-largest digits may have a “gap” between them. The heels and hindfoot, on the other hand, stay perfectly aligned. This distinguishes it from clubfoot, which involves the entire foot being curled or inclined. The metatarsus adductus affects both feet in half of all children. Although the specific cause is unknown, the infant’s location in the womb is thought to have an impact. Serial castings have been the standard therapy for Metatarsus Adductus (the most common congenital foot deformity) for about 200 years. Moreover, according to current research and publications, physical therapy and stretching exercises have not been proved to be useful in treating MA.

Due to the numerous technical problems, wound complications, discomfort, and hygiene issues, therapists and patients avoided repeated casting treatment. As a result, most orthopedic centers have adopted a new, compromise philosophy in recent decades, neglecting mild and intermediate instances and treating only severe cases of MA.

Many Metatarsus Adductus patients do not go for treatment on time. These kids are left with leg abnormalities for the rest of their lives because mild and moderate instances might deteriorate, and treatment time is limited to 10 months of the baby’s life.

In many situations, a lot of money is wasted on inadequate physical therapy and stretching exercises for newborns with MA. Serial castings should be started in the first months of a baby’s life since the complications and dangers of serial castings can be serious. Some attempts have been made to sweeten the treatment by using various orthotic devices without much success, so casting has remained the ideal treatment for MA, but only for severe cases. This compromise mindset is the primary cause of the high number of untreated MA patients submitted for treatment. This therapy is nearly challenging to provide without surgical intervention.

The Revolutionary Universal Neonatal Foot Orthotic (UNFO) has revolutionized the treatment of Metatarsus Adductus throughout the last decade. This mild sandal-like device has exact biomechanical features that allow it to repair MA deformities straightforwardly and efficiently, in a very short time, and with few side effects. The device encircles the foot with a single Velcro strap and provides dynamic 6-point corrective forces during a 3-6-week therapy and subsequently as a night brace to avoid recurrence.

Although most mild and moderate instances are thought to be managed over months or years, the lack of confidence in the prognosis, as well as UNFO’s unique, easy, and accessible therapy, should encourage infant caretakers to prescribe this safe treatment and rectify foot deformity before newborns take their first steps.

Clinical investigations in prominent institutions in Italy and Israel have proven that UNFO therapy is superior to serial casting and other techniques of MA treatment. The UNFO therapy has already been adopted as a therapeutic protocol at several medical facilities worldwide, and the number of patients is steadily increasing.

In conclusion, MTA is a feet abnormality that is treatable once diagnosed, especially in small children—treating at the adult stage maybe quite challenging and painful.