question re metatarsus adductus

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> Could somebody tell me what severe flexible metatarsus adductus is?

> Thanks!

>

>

Metatarsus adductus is a turning in of the front part of the foot.

The heel is not affected. It can be moved to a normal position. It

does not have the other dimensional aspects of the deformity, such as

the sideways turning of the foot and the downward pointing heel. It

is usually left to resolve on its own, with time and growth, without

treatment. In some severe cases, though, casting is done.

Years ago, in the '60s, '70s, it was common for babies with

metatarusu adductus to be prescribed 'special shoes' or the DBB. As a

result, many of us whose children wear the brace in public have had

people say, " Oh, I (or my sister, brother, cousin) wore one of those!

I had that same problem! " .. when most likely they didn't. (I was one

of them, who wore reverse last shoes day and night, without having

clubfoot.)

The condition does seem to be related genetically to clubfoot, in

that children who have unilateral clubfoot have a higher incidence of

it in their otheir other foot than would be expected otherwise. (from

Dr. P's book.) It seems, in my observation, that it's not uncommon

for there to have been cases of m.a. in a family, even if there

weren't cases of clubfoot before.

Hope this helps...