valgus

talipes

 [tal´ĭ-pēz]

a deformity in which the foot is twisted out of normal position; see also clubfoot and see illustration. It may have an abnormally high longitudinal arch (talipes cavus) or it may be in dorsiflexion (talipes calcaneus), in plantar flexion (talipes equinus), abducted and everted (talipes valgus or flatfoot), adducted and inverted (talipes varus), or various combinations of these (talipes calcaneovalgus, talipes calcaneovarus, talipes equinovalgus, or talipes equinovarus).



There are several theories as to the cause of clubfoot. A familial tendency or arrested growth during fetal life may contribute to its development, or it may be caused by a defect in the ovum. It sometimes accompanies meningomyelocele as a result of paralysis. In mild clubfoot there are slight changes in the structure of the foot; more severe cases involve orthopedic deformities of both the foot and leg. Although clubfoot is usually congenital, an occasional case in an older child may be caused by injury or poliomyelitis.

Treatment varies according to the severity of the deformity. Milder cases may be corrected with casts that are changed periodically, the foot being manipulated into position each time the cast is changed so that it gradually assumes normal position. A specially designed splint may also be used, made of two plates attached to shoes with a crossbar between the plates and special set screws so that the angulation of the foot can be changed as necessary. More severe deformities require surgery of the tendons and bones, followed by the application of a cast to maintain proper position of the joint.

Talipes.

val·gus

(val'gŭs), This form of the adjective is used only with masculine nouns (hallux valgus, plural halluces valgi). With feminine nouns the form valga is used (coxa valga, plural coxae valgae), and with neuter nouns the form valgum (genu valgum, plural genua valga). Do not confuse this word with varus.

Latin adjective describing any joint in an extremity that is deformed such that the more distal of the two bones forming the joint deviates away from the midline, as in knock-knee.

[Mod. L. turned outward, fr. L. bow-legged]

valgus

/val·gus/ (val´gus) [L.] bent out, twisted; denoting a deformity in which the angulation is away from the midline of the body, as in talipes valgus. The meanings of valgus and varus are often reversed.

valgus

(văl′gəs)

adj.

1. Characterized by an abnormal outward turning of a bone, especially of the hip, knee, or foot.

2. Knock-kneed.

n.

A valgus bone.

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val′goid′ (-goid′) adj.

valgus

[val′gəs]

Etymology: L, bent

describing an abnormal position in which a part of a limb is bent or twisted outward, away from the midline, such as the heel of the foot in talipes valgus (splayfoot). Compare varus. See also hallux valgus.

valgus

Orthopedics Fixation of an extremity in the position it would assume if everted; if in the frontal plane, the plantar surface is directed away from the midline. Cf Varus.

val·gus

(val'gŭs)

Descriptive of any of the paired joints of the extremities with a static angular deformity in which the bone distal to the joint deviates laterally from the longitudinal axis of the proximal bone, and from the midline of the body, when the subject is in anatomic position. The adjective valgus is attached sometimes to the name of the joint (cubitus valgus) and sometimes to the name of the part just distal to the joint (hallux valgus). The gender of the adjective matches that of the Latin noun to which it is joined; thus, cubitus, hallux, metatarsus, pes, talipes valgus; coxa, manus, talipomanus valga; genu valgum.

[Mod. L. turned outward, fr. L. bow-legged]

BOWLEG: In medical usage, referred to as “varus knee” or “genu varum.”

valgus

(val'gus) [L. valgus, valga, valgum bent, bent outward, bowleg(ged)]

Bent or turned outward, used esp. of deformities in which the most distal anatomical part is angled outward and away from the midline of the body. The classical Latin adjective valgus, valga, valgum means “bowleg” or “bowlegged” and applies to the appearance of the defect. The modern medical Latin adjective applies to the cause of the defect; thus a “valgus knee” is caused by the outward bendingof the tibia and fibula (away from the center of the body), resulting in “genu valgum, ” or “knock-knee.”

See: illustration; varus

valgus

[L.] bent outward; twisted; denoting a deformity in which the angulation is away from the midline of the body, as in coxa valga.

Carpal valgus in a lamb. By permission from Smith BP, Large Animal Internal Medicine, Mosby, 2001