Defects of the legs are as many as they are varied. Some of these are common in children especially those that are of a very young age. The club foot is a deformity that occurs in one out of every one thousand children. It is diagnosed by both feet that are inward facing, this can also be present in one foot. From as early as a few months after conception medical experts can detect that a baby will be born with this condition. Sometimes the deformity in the legs can occur as a result of poor formation of tendons and ligaments in the foot or as a result of spinal cord ailments. There are other cases of club foot and these occur when a baby grows in an irregular shape in the uterus. Although this condition is not identified as the actual deformity it leaves a child with a bend leg.
This deformity has been a puzzle to medical experts for many years now. Up to date there has been no concrete studies that have proven what is the real club foot causes. It is however believed that this condition has a link to genetics and that there is up to a 4% chance than an infant who is born to parents with the condition will have it. It is also proven that a baby who is born with this deformity will most likely, at 10% likelihood have a sibling with a similar condition.
There have been publications that have indicated that club foot deformity may have existed as far back as the time of the Egyptians. This claim is supported by ancient drawings that sought to put into picture how a baby with this deformity looked like. From as far as that time the symptoms of this deformity were listed as toes that point downwards and feet that are supported by the sides of the legs. Other symptoms of this condition are calluses formed on the sides of the legs and short or smaller than normal feet. The latter symptom is common in children who have the club foot deformity in one leg. Such cases are also characterized by a smaller leg and a smaller calf while the other leg remains normal.
In the first days after a baby is born with this condition only the symptoms cause worry. However as the baby starts to walk pain and difficult mobility can be experienced, in extreme cases the children can end up crippled.