Clubfoot assessment: the complete IMAR footprint

Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), also referred to as clubfoot, is a complex pathological condition encompassing a spectrum of foot abnormalities. Deformity and disability depend on the severity. Its management is a considerable challenge to the orthopaedic surgeon. The exact aetiopathogenesis still remains a mystery. Lack of complete understanding of this conundrum poses problems in treatment. The importance of assessing the severity of any causative pathology in considering its management does not need any more emphasis. Assessment is mandatory for predicting the prognosis, deciding the treatment option and evaluating the management outcome. Clinical, radiological and functional assessments are currently employed as conventional methods in evaluating this condition. This article emphasises the need for biomechanical evaluation in the early detection of subtle changes as this will enhance the clinical picture. Clinical and biomechanical evaluations supplement each other and should prove to be a powerful tool in the assessment and management of this condition. One such scoring system and a novel pictorial scale are recommended.