What is Genu Valgum ?
Genu valgum, known as knock-knees, is a knee malalignment that turns the knees inward. So when people with knock-knees stand up with their knees together, there’s a gap of 3 inches or more between their ankles.
Genu valgum is common in young children and usually corrects itself as they grow. Up to 75% of children between ages 3 and 5 years have knock-knees & 99% of these cases, genu valgum corrects itself by the time affected children are 7 or 8 years old.
Symptoms of genu valgum
Malalignment of knee turns the knees inward/ knock-knees.
Stiff joints
Knee pain
Pain in the hips, ankles, or feet due to stressed ligaments and muscles.
If only one knee is out of line, patient’s stance may be unbalanced.
Causes of genu valgum
Idiopathic
Family history.
Injury to or infection in the knee or leg
Bone malformation from rickets, a disease caused by lack of vitamin D and calcium
Other bone diseases eg;-Osteomalacia
Obesity, which puts extra pressure on the knees; Obesity can make genu valgum more severe.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Muscular paralysis of semimembranosus or semitendinosus
Fracture
May be secondary to flat foot, osteoarthritis
What is Genu Varum ?
Genu varum is a knee malalignment that turns the knee outwards which causes bowlegged. It happens when tibia turns inward instead of aligning with femur.
The normal toddler has a broad base gait. Many children evolve leg alignment with initially a degree of bowing of the tibiae, causing the knees to be wide apart – best observed while the child is standing with the feet together.
Symptoms
Bowlegged
Adults may feel some pain on the inner aspect of the knee.
Joint pain especially when walking
Osteoarthritis can be lead to unusual wear & tear on the cartilage.
Causes
Idiopathic
Young children develop varus knee as a result of rickets
Osteoarthritis
Bone infections
Bone tumors
Injuries on tibia
Paget’s disease of the bone
Brittle bone disease
Achondroplasia
Bloun’t disease
Treatments
Treatments for genu valgum and varum depend on the cause and severity of the symptoms.
For most conditions with genu valgum and varum, physiotherapy can help realign and stabilize their knees and correct the gait. In severe stages, surgeries should be done.
Sajani Gamlath
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/genu-valgum
https://www.healthline.com/health/varus-knee
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