Pinnacle Guru · Published archive
Collab Topic - Occupational Therapy
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Definition: Genu valgum (knock-knees) is a common lower leg abnormality that is usually seen in the toddler, preschool and early school age child. In genu valgum, the lower extremities turn inward, causing the appearance of the knees to be touching while the ankles remain apart.
CAUSES:
* metabolic disease
*renal (kidney) failure
*physical trauma (injury)
*arthritis, particularly in the knee
*bone infection (osteomyelitis)
*rickets (a bone disease caused by lack of vitamin D)
*congenital (inborn) conditions
*growth plate injury
*benign bone tumors
*SYMTOMS:
* knee or hip pain
*foot or ankle pain
*feet not touching while standing with knees together
*stiff or sore joints
*a limp while walking
*reduced range of motion in hips
*difficulty walking or running
*knee instability
*Diagnosis: An orthopedic specialist will review the patient’s medical and family history, any pre-existing conditions and current health. They will also do a physical examination of the legs and gait. Standing-alignment X-ray or EOS images will help confirm the diagnosis.
TREATMENT:
For mild cases of knock knee in children or adolescents, bracing may reposition the knees. When this does not work, or if the patient is an adult at the time of diagnosis, a knee-realignment osteotomy is done to prevent or delay the need for knee replacement.
DEFINITION:Bow legs (genu varum) is a condition where one or both of your child’s legs curve outward at the knees. This creates a wider space than normal between the knees and lower legs. When your child stands with his or her feet and ankles together, the knees stay wide apart. Your child’s legs may look like a bow, especially when they walk.
DIAGNOSIS:
If your child is older than 2, your child’s healthcare provider may measure your child’s legs and watch him or her walk. They may order imaging tests such as X-rays to view the bones in your child’s legs and knees. They may order blood tests to determine whether the bow legs are being caused by a condition such rickets.
TREATMENT:
Once the doctor makes a diagnosis, how they treat the condition will vary depending on the underlying cause.
For naturally occurring bow legs, a doctor will likely not recommend treatment right away. Instead, they will monitor the legs to watch every 6 months to check for signs of improvement.
When rickets or Blount’s disease is the cause, the condition will worsen rather than improve. A doctor will likely recommend treatments such as:
bracing
medication (for rickets)
surgical correction
Surgical correction falls into one of two types. They include:
*Guided growth
*Tibial osteotomy
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