Congenital metatarsus varus in four generations.

Abstract

Congenital metatarsus varus is a malformation of the anterior foot which results in inward angulation. Three clinical types of the anomaly have previously been described; this report concerns type one, the most common, which shows adduction of the anterior foot, increased elevation of the longitudinal arch, concavity of the medical border and convexity of the lateral border, and neutral position of the heel. We report a family in which this type occurred in nine members of four generations; five aflected persons had other minor abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system. Earlier studies have shown metatarsus varus to be one of the polygenically determined forms of the club foot anomaly. In this family the defect appears to be due to a single gene, autosomal dominant, with full penetrance, but with variable expressivity.