clawfoot, [AS, clawu + foot], a deformity of the foot characterized by an excessively high arch with hyperextension of the toes at the metatarsophalangeal joints, flexion at the interphalangeal joints, and shortening of the Achilles tendon. The condition may be present at birth or appear later as a result of contractures or an imbalance of the muscles of the foot, as in neuromuscular diseases such as Friedreich’s ataxia and peroneal muscular atrophy. Surgical treatment is indicated in severe cases, especially in children. In milder forms, the pain from the excessive pressure under the metatarsal heads can be relieved by sponge, rubber, or leather insoles fitted into the shoes. Also called gampsodactyly, griffe des orteils, pes cavus, talipes cavus.
