Published online Jul 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i7.635
Revised: May 30, 2024
Accepted: June 18, 2024
Published online: July 18, 2024
Processing time: 127 Days and 16.2 Hours
Clubfoot, or congenital talipes equinovarus, is a widely recognized cause of disability and congenital deformity worldwide, which significantly impacts the quality of life. Effective management of clubfoot requires long-term, multidisciplinary intervention. It is important to understand how common this condition is in order to assess its impact on the population. Unfortunately, few studies have investigated the prevalence of clubfoot in Saudi Arabia.
To determine the prevalence of clubfoot in Saudi Arabia via the patient population at King Fahad University Hospital (KFUH).
This was a retrospective study conducted at one of the largest hospitals in the country and located in one of the most densely populated of the administrative regions.
Of the 7792 births between 2015 to 2023 that were included in the analysis, 42 patients were diagnosed with clubfoot, resulting in a prevalence of 5.3 per 1000 live births at KFUH.
The observed prevalence of clubfoot was significantly higher than both global and local estimates, indicating a substantial burden in the study population.
Core Tip: Clubfoot, or congenital talipes equinovarus, is a congenital deformity with global impact, but comprehensive prevalence data for Saudi Arabia are lacking. This study at King Fahad University Hospital aimed to address this gap by analyzing 7792 births that occurred between 2015 and 2023. The analysis revealed a prevalence of 5.3 per 1000 live births, which is higher than global estimates and indicates a substantial burden. The findings emphasize the urgency of targeted interventions to address clubfoot in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.