Clubfoot is a birth defect that occurs in approximately 1 in 1,500 children. It is more common in males.
Clubfoot, or
talipes,
includes several types of deformity of the foot and ankle.
In 95
percent of the cases, the defect is
talipes equinovarus, in which the foot flexes inward and the toes turn down. Another is talipes calcaneovalgus, in which the foot is flexed outward and the toes turn up. There is a 2-8 percent chance of recurrence in a family with one affected child. Inherited factors and physical limitations during gestation play a role in development of clubfoot. Treatment ranges from casts to corrective surgery, depending on severity.