Genetic considerations of foot anomalies in office practice

Basic genetic principles are reviewed, with special reference to foot anomalies. The cytogenetics of Mendelian disorders (autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant, and X-linked recessive) are explained, with attention to penetrance and variable expressivity. Multifactorial conditions and chromosome structural defects are also discussed. The value of tracing family genetics patterns and performing chromosome studies for diagnosing and counseling orthopaedic patients is under-scored. The mechanics of genetic principles, explained in the article, are shown to be worthwhile tools in orthopaedic medicine.