Eshealthtips.com – There are a number of different causes for genu valgum, but the most common are genetic and environmental. If you have this condition, your doctor will perform tests to determine whether your genes are contributing to your symptoms. Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan. Your doctor can also refer you to a specialist if necessary.
Conditions That Can Cause Knee Deformities
There are many conditions that can cause a knock-knee deformity. These conditions may be hereditary or genetic. They can also be caused by injury or trauma. Depending on the underlying causes, treatment of a genu valgum in children can involve surgery, orthotics, and physical therapy.
Knock knees are common in young children. This is a normal feature of the skeletal system that typically goes away by age seven or eight. However, some patients have symptoms such as pain when walking or limping. Observation and exercise can help prevent or minimize the symptoms. Patients with mild genu valgum often correct themselves as they grow. The condition is usually benign, but it can cause joint and muscle problems in the future if left untreated. It can also affect adult patients.
The condition can be caused by a variety of factors, such as hereditary disorders, infection, bone disease, and trauma. The diagnosis of genu valgum in children usually starts with a detailed medical history. A doctor will ask about family history, as well as a description of how the child walks. If the condition is severe, then the child may require surgery. The surgeon will insert a metal plate into the knee. Alternatively, the child may receive a brace.
Genu Valgum Treatment can Involve Physical Therapy and Exercise
Genu valgum is a common deformity of the knees in children. It can occur due to genetic conditions, bone diseases, or trauma to the growth areas of the knee. In most cases, the deformity resolves before adolescence. However, if it persists into adolescence, it can cause pain and joint problems. Treatment of genu valgum in children is usually an effort to relieve pain and prevent the condition from affecting other joints. This may involve physical therapy and exercise. For severe knock knees, braces can be used. These braces help to realign the bones and minimize the effects of the condition.
If genu valgum is causing pain, surgical treatment may be necessary. During surgery, a metal plate is inserted into the knee. The metal plate helps the bones to grow in the proper position. Once the bone is aligned, the plate is removed. If genu valgum continues into adolescence, corrective osteotomies can be considered. Bone corrective osteotomies are designed to prevent a child from developing a more severe deformity as he or she grows.
Guided growth surgery is another option for children with genu valgum. In this method, the patient’s tibial physis is stapled to a metal plate that is flexible. This technique is a quick and easy way to treat periarticular deformities. The genu valgum or knock knee is a common deformity in children. It is usually benign, but can become more severe and cause pain in the ankles and hips if it remains untreated.
Surgery may be considered in the Treatment of Deformities
In order to be able to properly evaluate a patient for genu valgum, a detailed medical history is required. An orthopedic surgeon should be involved in the care of a patient with this deformity. Most cases of genu valgum resolve on their own by age 7. In patients with advanced genu valgum, surgery may be considered. This procedure involves inserting a plate into the knee.
A flexible titanium plate is used in a bridging technique to correct deformities in the knee and surrounding bones. After the plate is removed, the knee is evaluated radiologically to ensure that there is no rebound deformity. If the genu valgum persists, physical therapy may be recommended to improve the appearance and reduce the symptoms. Orthotic braces may also be utilized to help the skeleton move in the correct position.
Surgery is reserved for more severe cases. Guided growth techniques are often effective for periarticular deformities. When a child’s physis is aligned, the fixation is removed. Children who have genu valgum that persists into adolescence, however, can be treated with osteotomies. These procedures are typically secured with external frames and internal plates.
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