Referral Recommendations for Antenatal Detection of Congenital Talipes Equino Varus (CTEV)/Clubfoot:

In our experience, families of a child with a potential diagnosis of Congenital Talipes Equino Varus (CTEV)/Clubfoot during their antenatal anatomy ultrasound scan, are often less anxious when good quality and timely information is provided and when families are directed to reliable sources of information.

Parental education plays an important part in the success of the CTEV/Clubfoot treatment process. Early treatment is important and families who are well informed about the potential diagnosis and treatment process make a smooth transition from delivery to the start of treatment.

More frequently, identification of CTEV/Clubfoot is detected on the antenatal anatomy ultrasound examination. However, the likelihood of false positives and false negatives should be discussed together with the possibility that the condition may be associated with other anomalies.

When CTEV/Clubfoot is initially detected, a referral should be made to your local Fetal Medicine Unit for a more detailed scan to look for the presence of potential associated anomalies.

It is important to discuss with the family that confirmation of the actual diagnosis of club foot can only occur after the baby is born.

The prevalence of CTEV/Clubfoot is 1 to 6 per 1000 live births in New Zealand and is twice as common in boys as girls. In around 50% of the cases both feet are affected.

The birth prevalence varies among different ethnic groups. The highest rates are seen in individuals of Māori and Polynesian ethnicity and the lowest in Asian populations.

Some families prefer to be prepared and armed with as much information on what to expect, the treatment and what will happen following the birth of their baby. Families should be reassured that CTEV/Clubfoot is a treatable condition and that the Ponseti Method is the current recommended gold standard treatment. A dedicated Ponseti clinic is run weekly here at Starship Children’s Health. At Starship Children’s Health, the antenatal education is done by the Advanced Paediatric Physiotherapist and Paediatric Orthopaedic Nurse Specialist.

If the family have any further questions and/or would like an antenatal appointment, we would be happy to accept a referral.

Please use eReferral system, or send/fax the referral to:

Central Referrals Office on – Fax (09) 638 0402 – Attention Paediatric Orthopaedic Department