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Director, Paediatric
Orthopaedics
Genu varum or Bow legs is a condition where a child’s legs curve outwards at the knees, creating a space between the knees and lower legs. The child’s legs appear like a bow when standing with feet and ankles together.
This is not always an abnormal finding and is a normal alignment in infants and toddlers (Physiological Genu Varum)
Causes of Genu varum: The commonest cause of this deformity is rickets (Usually due to Vit D deficiency) or other metabolic conditions that prevent the bones from developing properly, like skeletal dysplasia or sometimes sequelae of infection or injury. The other common type is physiologic genu varum, which is a normal alignment in the first year of life. Another important cause of bowlegs in young children is Blount’s Disease, which warrants early treatment to prevent complications.
Signs of Genu Varum: The appearance of bowed legs is the most common complaint, especially while walking. Children usually display no other symptoms. Bow legs usually do not impact the child’s ability to walk or run.
Our treatment procedure:
Diagnosis: We perform a physical examination and check the child’s medical history. If the child is less than 2 years old, we may not ask for other tests. If more than 2 years of age, we assess how the child walks and measure various angles of the lower limb. We may ask for X-rays to examine the bones in the knees and legs and quantify the deformity. We may also prescribe blood tests to determine if it is caused by a condition, such as rickets or any other metabolic cause.
Treatment: We treat the underlying cause, be it rickets or any other metabolic cause and prescribe medicines for the same.
There is not much role of braces/splints in the treatment of these deformities due to a nutritional issue like Rickets, but if the cause is Blount’s disease, we start early treatment with a splint or leg brace.
Surgery: Most of the children presenting at a young age can be managed without surgery. But, older children with this deformity or young children with Blount’s disease need surgery to rectify the condition and prevent further damage.
The surgical options include:
Knock knees, or Genu valgum, is the condition where the knees are tilted inwards, though the ankles are spaced apart. This condition is prevalent more in girls than boys. In children, knock knees are normally seen to some extent at a particular age during the growing years.
Many children have knock knees in their early years, but as they grow in height, they outgrow the condition. As a parent, you should consult a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon if you notice this deformity in your children’s legs.
Signs of Genu valgum:
Causes of Genu valgum:
Treatment at Maruti clinic for Children Orthopaedics:
We examine your child and the position of the legs, knees, and ankles to determine the severity of the condition.
We may recommend a special X-ray, which helps us confirm the site of deformity, quantify the deformity and confirm if any other underlying condition is causing the knock knees.
Options for treatment:
For children between 2 to 5 years, only close observation is needed. Most children outgrow the condition by the time they turn seven.
Non-surgical methods: If the child’s condition is severe, then treatment will focus on treating any underlying condition. Vitamin D and calcium supplements are usually prescribed if the cause is rickets.
Surgical options: Most children with Genu valgum do not need surgical intervention. If medical treatment fails or the child is older at the time of presentation, then we recommend surgery.
At our clinic, we use our extensive experience to help children with Genu varum and Genu valgum live full, independent, and active lives with the correct alignment of legs.
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