Family studies and aetiology of club foot.

Congenital club foot and talipes are used to describe various abnormalities of the foot in the newborn child. The most serious of these is talipes equinovarus in which there is plantar flexion of the ankle and inversion of the foot. This deformity is difficult to treat, having a marked tendency to recur, and causes a real disability. About half the cases are bilaterally affected. Patients frequently attend hospital for the first Io-i5 years of life. A long-term follow up of the results of treatment of patients with talipes equinovarus has been reported elsewhere (WynneDavies, I964a). The family findings in a series of patients with talipes equinovarus, mild (postural) talipes equinovarus, talipes calcaneo-valgus, and metatarsus varus have been reported in summary form (Wynne-Davies, I964b). In this paper the family data, especially that on talipes equinovarus, are presented and discussed in more detail. Cases secondary to spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and arthrogryposis are not included.