Observations on the epidemiology of club foot in Polynesian and Caucasian populations

Abstract

Although Polynesians are affected by idiopathic club foot deformity more commonly than other racial groups, epidemiological surveys performed in Auckland and Glasgow showed no other significant difference in their pattern of presentation compared with Caucasians. Distinctions in sex ratio and maternal age, reported previously between groups of index cases with and without a family history of the condition, were not confirmed in either racial group, and the predominance of right sided over left sided unilateral cases was no greater in Polynesians than in Caucasians. There was an excess of sporadic cases born to very young mothers among the Maori population.