Abstract
1. Lateral radiographs of fifty-seven club feet and seventeen normal feet were taken in forced flexion and forced extension. On these, the arcs traversed by the talus, the sole and the calcaneus were measured, as was the talo-calcaneal angle.
2. It was found that the ankle in club feet usually contributed more than half of the total sagittal movement of the foot.
3. Occasional cases were encountered in which the ankle was so damaged that it contributed only half or less than half of this movement. In such cases wedge excision of the ankle joint is theoretically justified in preference to wedge tarsectomy.
4. The talo-calcaneal angle is much reduced in club foot, and this element of deformity is extremely resistant to manipulative treatment. The reasons for this and a possible method of treatment are discussed.
