Orthopaedics /

Talipes equinovarus or Club Foot

01 What Do I Need To Know?

Talipes equino-varus or club foot occurs commonly in newborn infants. In most cases it is postional and due to intrauterine compression, in theses cases the foot can be returned to the normal position and most correct with simple stretches.

In a small number approxiamtely 1-3 : 1000 births the foot cannot be returned to the normal postion and is fixed with the clubfoot (talipes) pointing downwards (equino) and turning inwards ( varus). The condition is often detected on the 18-20 week scan and is usually bilateral in 50%.

There are now specialised paediatric orthopaedic units who treat babies with CTEV using the Ponseti technique with excellent results. See the links below which detail the treatment.

02 What Others Say

  • Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network

Orthopaedic fact sheet: Positional Talipes

Clubfoot (talipes equinovarus)

  • Westmead, Sydney and John Hunter Childrens hospital

Congenital talipes equinovarus: information for parents with prenatal diagnosis at ultrasound

03 I Want To Know More

  • Ponseti International

Learn about Clubfoot

  • Australian parent support website

AussieClubFootKids.org

  • United Kingdom parent support website

ClubFoot UK

  • NGO: Global Club Foot Initiative

Global ClubFoot Initiative

04 Clinicians Tools and Resources

  • Australian Family Physician

Clubfoot: Advances in diagnosis and management

  • Pediatrics Vol 113 No2 Feb 2004

Radical Reduction in the Rate of Extensive Corrective Surgery for Clubfoot using the Ponseti Method

The information published here has been reviewed by Flourish Paediatrics and represents the available published literature at the time of review.
The information is not intended to take the place of medical advice.
Please seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Read our terms and conditions

Last updated: 09/11/2013 by Dr Liz Hallam