THE CONGENITAL BALL-AND-SOCKET ANOMALY

The collective consists of 11 patients with a ''ball and socket''-anom aly of the talus with a mean age of 13.7 years. All patients demonstra ted typical symptoms of the FFU-syndrom with a leg length discrepancy of 4.3 cm (2-20). In 6 patients a close follow-up was done in the earl y development of the talusform. In the metacarpal region also synostos is of some bones were seen at a mean age of 4.8 years (3.2-5.9). No cl inical complaints but a sligth reduction of hind foot mobility could b een registered. Ball and socket deformity can not be seen as congenita l, but as a subsequent deformity after congenital fusions in the metat arsal bones.