IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CLUBFOOT

WHAT IS CLUBFOOT

Clubfoot is a complex, congenital deformity of the foot also known as ‘congenital talipes equinovarus’ (CTEV) caused by the abnormal development of a baby’s bones, ligaments and muscles whilst in the womb1.

Visually, the foot affected by clubfoot appears to be twisted inwards and downwards.  The foot will be shorter than a normal foot and the calf muscles of the affected limb will be smaller2. The deformity will feel ‘fixed’ – not able to be corrected manually and will not resolve on its own3.

Clubfoot

Around the world, 150,000 – 200,000 babies with clubfoot are born each year.  Approximately 80% of these will be in low and middle income countries. The incidence of clubfoot varies around the world.

The exact causes of clubfoot are not known. Scientific studies have found that familial inheritance, genetics and environment are all likely to be factors which interact to cause clubfoot but how this happens is not well understood. Clubfoot can occur in either one or both feet – bilateral cases of clubfoot account for around 50% of cases. It is almost twice as common in males as in females.  

Source: Global Clubfoot Initiative