Clubfoot

Clubfoot is a congenital condition in which the foot is abnormally formed and twisted toward the toe. The type of treatment necessary depends on the specifics and the severity of the deformity.

What Is Clubfoot?

Clubfoot (also called Talipes Equinovarus) is a congenital * condition in which the foot is abnormally formed and rigidly twisted toward the toe. Clubfoot occurs when the bones, muscles, tendons, and blood vessels develop abnormally during the first 8 to 12 weeks of fetal development.

What Causes Clubfoot?




Clubfoot





Illustration by GGS Information Services. © 2016 Cengage Learning®.

Who Gets Clubfoot?

About 1 in 1,000 babies in the United States is born with clubfoot. This number varies worldwide and by ethnicity. A baby is more likely to be born with clubfoot if a parent or a sibling also has this defect. Boys are two times more likely than girls to be born with this defect, and about half of all children with the condition are born with both feet affected.

What Are the Symptoms of Clubfoot?

The clubfoot has a characteristic appearance. The foot is often smaller than normal, and the front of the foot is twisted and drawn stifHy toward the big toe. The heel cord (Achilles tendon) may be abnormally short and tight, pulling the foot backwards towards the heel. Some people describe its appearance as “kidney-shaped.” The sole of the foot is also twisted into a more upward position than normal; if walking were to occur, weight would be born by the side of the foot, rather than the sole. Because this deformity occurs very early in fetal development (within the first trimester of pregnancy), at birth the foot is held very rigidly in this position.

Untreated, clubfoot can result in significant disability, since walking is difficult and abnormal. Without treatment, the child is forced to walk on the outside of the foot, rather than flat on the foot's sole. Other bony changes occur over time in the untreated clubfoot, which can be further disabling.

How Is Clubfoot Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of clubfoot at birth is quite simple given the characteristic appearance of the foot. Additionally, because clubfoot occurs so early in fetal development, clubfoot can sometimes be identified during a routine 16-week prenatal ultrasound * .

THE CLUBFOOT IN FICTION

Of Human Bondage, the 1915 novel by English author W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965), has as its main character Philip Carey, who is born with a clubfoot. Like Philip, Maugham was orphaned in childhood and raised in the vicarage of his relative. During his early years, the author developed a stutter (called a stammer in England). In writing this novel, Maugham drew on his own experience of disability and the social unease it caused, along with his grief over the loss of his parents. He created a sympathetic portrait of a child born with a clubfoot, one who is orphaned early and socially disadvantaged as he grows up. Maugham's novel is considered his masterpiece.

How Is Clubfoot Treated?

With treatment, children with clubfeet can go on to grow, develop, and function quite normally. Well-known athletes who were born with clubfeet include Olympic gold medalist skater Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist soccer player Mia Hamm, and former San Francisco Giant Freddy Sanchez.

Can Clubfoot Be Prevented?

Clubfoot cannot be prevented, but genetic counseling can help affected individuals understand the risk of passing the condition on to their offspring. Additionally, the general risk of birth defects is decreased in women who do not smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs or medications, or experience other potentially toxic exposures during pregnancy.

See also Birth Defects: Overview

Resources

Books and Articles

Rinzler, Carol Ann. Leonardo's Foot: How 10 Toes, 52 Bones, and 66 Muscles Shaped the Human World. New York: Bellevue Literary Press, 2013.

Websites

MedlinePlus. “Clubfoot.” U.S. National Library of Medicine. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001228.htm (accessed November 28, 2015).

Organizations

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 6300 N. River Rd., Rosemont, IL 60018. Telephone: 847-823-7186. Website: http://aaos.org (accessed November 28, 2015).

* congenital (kon-JEH-nih-tul) means present at birth.

* ultrasound also called a sonogram, is a diagnostic test in which sound waves passing through the body create images on a computer screen.

Disclaimer:   This information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.

(MLA 8th Edition)