Pigeon toe
| Pigeon toe | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Medical genetics  |
Pigeon toe, also called metatarsus varus, metatarsus adductus, in-toe gait, intoeing or false clubfoot, is a condition which causes the toes to point inward when walking. It is most common in infants and children under two years of age[1] and, when not the result of simple muscle weakness,[2] normally arises from one of three underlying conditions, a twisted shin bone, an excessive retroversion (femoral head is less than 15 degrees in the angle of torsion) resulting in the twisting of the thigh bone when the front part of a person's foot is turned in.
Severe cases are considered a form of clubfoot.[3]
Treatment
Most of these conditions are self-correcting during childhood. Spinal manipulation of the lumbosacral spine can also correct this, or in the worst cases surgery may be needed.[1] Most of the time this involves lengthening the achillis tendon. Less severe treatment options for pigeon toe include keeping a child from crossing his or her legs, use of corrective shoes and casting of the foot and lower legs, which is normally done before the child reaches 12 months of age or older.[4]
If the pigeon toe is mild and close to the center, treatment may not be necessary.
References
- ^ a b "Pigeon toe (in-toeing)". University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. 2005. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
- ^ Glenn Copeland, Stan Solomon and Mark Myerson (2005). The Good Foot Book. New York: Hunter House. pp. 96–97. ISBN 0-89793-448-2.
- ^ "pigeon toe" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ Lee Mancini, MD., CSCS (2005-11-02). "Pigeon Toe". Fairview Health Services. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |