Congenital talipes in Malaysian neonates: incidence, pattern and associated factors

A study was carried out on 8,369 neonates delivered in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur over a period of four months. Forty-nine neonates (5.6 per 1000 livebirths) had congenital talipes. The incidence of congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) was 4.5 per 1000 livebirths while that of congenital talipes calcaneovalgus (CTCV) was 1.3 per 1000 livebirths. 6/11 (54.5%) of the CTCV was unilateral, the ratio of right to left feet involvement being 1:1. Only 12/38 (31.5%) of the CTEV were unilateral, the ratio of right to left feet involvement being 1:2. Congenital talipes was significantly more common in the low birthweight neonates (p less than 0.001). However, the condition was not significantly more common in neonates with breech presentation nor in those born to primigravida mothers. Our data suggested that multifactorial genetic background as the most likely underlying cause of congenital talipes in Malaysian neonates.