Abstract
1. After exclusion of the well known causes of torsion such as congenital dislocation of the hip, Legg-Perthes' disease, cerebral palsy and congenital talipes equinovarus, examination of 1,320 nearly normal children disclosed an incidence of 13·6 per cent toeing-in or toeing-out.
2. There was a female preponderance of seven to three on presentation decreasing to four to three in uncorrected cases.
3. There was persisting upper femoral torsion of greater than 10 degrees in two-thirds of all cases of toeing-in whether corrected or uncorrected.
4. When correction of toeing-in occurred it took place between four and seven years of age, but mainly at five years.
5. There was a normal angle of anteversion in one-third of children whose toeing-in was not corrected. This suggests the possibility of acetabular maldirection.
6. Uncorrected torsional stresses may play a part in the later development of osteoarthritis.
