Club foot

A club foot, or talipes, is a birth defect. The foot is twisted in such a way that it cannot be completely corrected without the aid of surgery. Persons afflicted often appear to walk on their ankles, or on the sides of their feet. It is the most common birth defect, occurring in approximately one in every three hundred babies. It is not uncommon for both feet to be clubbed. The ailment is sometimes called "pigeon-toe".

Casting and special shoes can be used to force the foot into a normal position, but the most effective way to correct the deformity is through surgery. The lasting effects are minute, if, in fact, any remain at all.