Archive for the ‘Downs Syndrome’ Category

Downs Syndrome Of Foot

What Is Club Foot (Talipes Equinovarus)? What Causes Club Foot?

A clubfoot, also known as club foot, congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), or talipes equinovarus (TEV) is a congenital deformity (present at birth) in which the affected foot appears rotated internally at the ankle – the foot points down and inwards and the soles of the feet face each other. 50% of patients with club foot have bilateral club foot (both feet are affected).

The tendons on the inside of the leg of people with club foot are shortened, the bones have an unusual shape and the Achilles tendon is tightened. If left untreated patients often appear to walk on their ankles or on the sides of their feet.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, approximately 1 in every 1,000 babies is born with club foot. Males are twice as likely to have the condition as females. According to the National Health Service (NHS), UK, if one child is born with club foot there is a 1 in 30 chance that his/her younger sibling will also be affected.

Clubfoot and other foot defects:

Clubfoot is a word used to describe a foot defect present at birth. The defect can be mild or severe, and it can involve one foot or both. The medical term for clubfoot is talipes equinovarus. There also are other milder foot defects that are not as severe as clubfoot.

How common is clubfoot?

Clubfoot is one of the most common birth defects. More than 4,000 babies (about 1 in 1,000) are born with clubfoot in the United States each year (1, 2). Boys are affected twice as often as girls ). Mild foot defects are even more common than clubfoot.

How does clubfoot affect a child?

An affected foot points downward and twists inward. If both feet are “clubbed,” the soles of the feet may face each other. The foot bones, ankle joints, and muscles and ligaments of the foot may be abnormal.

Clubfoot is not painful, and it doesn’t bother the baby until he begins to stand and walk. Untreated, the ankle remains twisted, and the foot can’t move up and down as it normally would. If both feet are affected (which occurs in about 50 percent of cases) , the child walks on the sides or even on the top part of the feet instead of the soles. The part walked on may become infected and develop a large, hard callus. Painful arthritic changes also develop.

If only one foot is affected, that foot and calf are smaller than those on the other side.

What are some other common foot defects?

Calcaneovalgus and metatarsus adductus are common, mild foot defects.

•     Calcaneovalgus: The baby’s foot bends sharply at the ankle so that the foot points upward and outward. In many cases, the top of the foot can touch the shinbone. Calcaneovalgus usually goes away without treatment in the first few months of life, and there are no lasting effects.
•     Metatarsus adductus: The front part of the foot turns inward, causing the child to walk with his toes pointed in. Most affected children require no treatment, as the condition often resolves itself. However, severe cases are treated with special shoes or casts, usually between 6 and 9 months of age.