Clubfoot Lawsuit

The maternal use of a number of popular medications during pregnancy has been associated with a rare congenital birth defect known as clubfoot. This malformation is characterized by the infant’s feet being rotated inward at the ankles, with the affected extremities being smaller and significantly shorter than normal extremities. Drugs linked to clubfoot include antidepressants such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, as well as over-the-counter painkillers like Advil, Aleve and aspirin.

Free Clubfoot Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has given birth to a baby with clubfoot after the child was exposed to any of the medications listed in this article in the womb, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.

What is Clubfoot?

Clubfoot (congenital talipes equinovarus) is a rare but extremely serious birth defect characterized by the feet being rotated inward at the ankle. The condition can occur in one or both feet, with the affected extremity being smaller than normal and significantly shorter than normal extremities. Though the medical community is still debating what causes the condition, there has been evidence and case studies conducted to suggest that in certain cases clubfoot may be the result of antidepressant use by expecting mothers during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Which Antidepressants Cause Clubfoot?

The following antidepressants have been linked to the development of clubfoot in babies born to mothers who took the drugs during pregnancy (especially during the first trimester, a time when many women may still be unaware they are pregnant):

Painkillers and Clubfoot

According to a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, expecting mothers who take over-the-counter NSAID painkillers have an increased risk of having babies born with clubfoot. An infant’s risk of being born with clubfoot was found to be three times higher if their mothers had taken NSAIDs while pregnant. Painkillers associated with clubfoot include:

Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan and Naprosyn)
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
Rofecoxib (Vioxx)
Celecoxib (Celebrex)
Diclofenac (Cataflam)
Diclofenac and Misoprostol (Arthrotec)
Nabumetone (Relafen)
Aspirin

Treatment for Clubfoot

The initial treatment of clubfoot is usually nonoperative, and typically begins in the first few days of life. A skilled surgeon can correct most cases of the deformity by manipulation and casting. Proper manipulative techniques followed by applications of well moulded plaster casts offer the best and safest correction of most clubfeet in infants. if you’d like to learn more about clubfoot, please visit the Mayo Clinic Website for more information.

Do I have a Clubfoot Lawsuit?

The Defective Drug & Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in birth defect lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new clubfoot cases in all 50 states.