A study of anatomy and biomechanics of the ankle region in normal and club feet (talipes equino varus) of infants.

Three normal feet and three feet exhibiting talipes equino varus from infants were dissected and their anatomy studied and compared. The tibiae were immobilised in plaster and held in a bench clamp while the range of dorsiflexion (extension) was studied before and after immobilisation of either the medial or lateral, or of both groups of tendons. Movements at the subtalar and ankle joints were studied as well as factors controlling movements at the subtalar joint. There was minimal subtalar movement in normal feet during dorsiflexion (extention) but for the clubbed feet the joint showed far greater movement. Tethering of the lateral malleolus to the calcaneum by a suture, in normal feet, caused similar biomechanical behaviour to that seen in clubbed feet.