What condition is characterized by an infant's foot being turned inward?

The condition characterized by an infant's foot being turned inward is known as clubfoot. Clubfoot refers to a range of foot deformities that can affect one or both feet. In this condition, the foot is typically twisted out of shape or position, leading to issues with walking if not treated. The inward turning can involve the heel being drawn up and the front part of the foot turning inward, which is where the terminology "clubfoot" originates, as the foot may appear to be shaped like a club.

Talipes is often cited synonymously with clubfoot, particularly when referring specifically to the condition of the foot being congenitally deformed. However, the more common terminology used in clinical practice for this specific foot deformity remains clubfoot.

Cleft palate and syndactyly refer to entirely different types of congenital conditions. Cleft palate involves a split or opening in the roof of the mouth, while syndactyly is characterized by webbed fingers or toes resulting from incomplete separation of digits during fetal development. Therefore, while these other conditions are significant in pediatrics, they do not relate to the characteristic inward turning of the infant's foot described.