The Anatomy of Congenital Talipes Equinovarus

Abstract

The anatomical findings in sixteen dissected specimens of infantile congenital talipes equinovarus have been described. The findings were uniform and essentially the same as those found in forty-four of the fifty-two previously reported dissections. Congenital talipes equinovarus is a composite deformity involving all of the tissues of the foot. There are no simple or isolated defects such as contracted bands or peroneal-muscle atrophy, but each tissue conforms to the equinus and varus position. The major bone deformity resides in the talus. Its neck and articular surface for the navicular deviate to face medially and plantarward. Its subtalar surfaces are tilted into varus and equinus and are medially rotated. Since the remainder of the foot is articulated with the distorted hind part of the foot, the fore part falls into supination, equinus, and medial rotation (Figs. 4 and 6). The relationship of the findings in the dissected specimens to the club-foot deformity seen in patients has been discussed, and arthrograms demonstrating this deformity in the club-footed patient have been presented. Therapy was not discussed.