What is Talipes?
Talipes is a condition which can affect one or both of a baby’s feet. Most cases are congenital talipes equinovarus (CTE), where the front half of the foot turns inwards and downwards. It is also called “clubfoot” or “club foot”. We do not know exactly what causes talipes but it can run in families – about a quarter of cases are genetically linked. If both parents have the condition there is 15 per cent chance that they will pass it on to their child. There is also a theory that talipes may be caused by some kind of disruption in fetal development. Researchers at Aberdeen University are studying this more closely. Babies don’t find the condition painful, but it needs to be treated so that they can walk successfully when they are older.
Talipes is a congenital deformity that develops in the womb during the first trimester (between 8 to 12 weeks) and causes an abnormal twisting of the ankles, heels, toes and feet. Talipes is present in one of every 1,000 childbirths in the United States (US), and 95 percent of these incidences are known as congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) or clubfoot. This type causes the foot to be curled inwards with toes pointing downward. Causes. Among the causes of talipes is the abnormal position of the feet and limited space in the womb during fetal development, which can result in malformed tendons, muscles and bones. Furthermore, the lack of amniotic fluid in the sac surrounding the fetus, or oligohydramnios, can increase pressure on the feet, leading to talipes as well. While there is no conclusive proof that talipes is hereditary, statistics indicate that there is a three to four percent probability that a child will develop it if one parent has this deformity. This percentage increases
