Talipes

Congenital Talipes Equinovarus or CTEV or Talipes as it is most commonly called, is a type of deformation, occurring in the ankles or the foot, generally at the time of birth. The foot is seen to point downwards, and the ankle becomes twisted towards the inside. In half of such cases, the conditions effects both the feet, i.e. it is bilateral. Talipes is also known to many as club foot.

Talipes effects about one out of every 1000 children born, and is more common among boys. And if the first child born has the condition, then more often than not the next children born will also carry club foot, with a 30 percent chance of happening. Normally, Talipes can be treated within few weeks of the birth, or sometimes even at later stages. If the infection is very mild, then treatment might not even be needed in some cases.

Causes of Talipes

The exact cause for Talipes occurring is still unknown for many cases. Some have concluded that it might be a hereditary condition or genetic, running within the family. If in case a single parent has Talipes, then a 3 to 4% chance exists of the child receiving it. If both the parents have the condition, then the occurrence in the child goes up to 15%.

Also, Talipes may occur due to the feet positioning while the baby is inside the womb. If the foot gets entangled or rests in an anomalous position, it might come out in the same way, retaining the abnormal position. Another reason may be due to the condition called as oligohydramnios, which means less amniotic fluid inside the womb. This condition may result in increased pressure upon the foot, leading to the formation of Talipes.

Diagnosing Talipes

In an unborn child, Talipes can be diagnosed using the ultrasound technique, but this does not give the chance to treat the condition before the child is born. It is most often discovered when the child is born, as the babies are examined at birth, and the CTEV condition will be visible without any specialised equipment. Once the examination is done and if the child is diagnosed with having CTEV, then the General Practitioner will also check if the child has certain other conditions that are linked with this, like an open spine or spina bifida, or a muscular dystrophy.

Treating Talipes

Treatment for Talipes is normally begun within a few weeks of the child’s birth. The main goal of treating Talipes is to enable the child to have flexible and painless feet functionality. The treatment is based upon the extent of the condition, and how the doctor decides to go about it. Most of the time the treatment will include the use of physiotherapy, mild manipulative exercises, putting on casts, and in major cases even surgery.

However, in recent times, many orthopaedics’ are resorting to a specialised method known as the Ponseti treatment. This involves a manipulative exercise regime every week, followed by a plaster cast worn for about two months, after which the child is given boots to wear which have splints fitted in, to keep the feet in proper position.