Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of clubfoot: Implications for patient counseling

This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of prenatally, sonogra phically diagnosed clubfoot: the incidence of associated anomalies; and the correlation with postnatal findings. Cases of prenatally diagnosed clubfee t were abstracted from a prospectively entered ultrasound database. Scans w ere reviewed for the presence of associated anomalies. Available neonatal c harts were reviewed for correlation with prenatal findings. The incidence o f prenatally diagnosed clubfoot was 0.43%. This was isolated in 33% of the cases and associated with other anomalies in 67%. All cases with associated anomalies were identified prenatally. There was a 40% false-positive rate for isolated clubfoot, all diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy. P renatally diagnosed clubfoot was seen in 0.43% of this high-risk population . The correct identification of associated anomalies facilitates prenatal c ounseling, but limitations of prenatal ultrasound must be remembered. This information should be helpful to orthopaedic surgeons involved in the couns eling of these patients.