Clubfoot

Congenital clubfoot occurs in 1 per 1.000 live births. It may be idiopathic, neurogenic, or associated with a syndrome (such as arthrogryposis multiplex congenita). It is called talipes equinovarus which means plantar flexion at the ankle joint with inversion of the foot at the heel and the forefoot. Treatment with splinting should begin a few days after birth. Initialy, this can be by splinting with strapping and later with casts that strecth the foot towards sequentially correcting the forefoot, heel and then ankle deformities. About 50 percent will require an operative procedure to lengthen structures within the foot