What is Bowleg and Knock-Knees?

Bowleg (genu varum) is a condition where a child’s legs are curved outwards at the knees. However, when a child with bowlegs stands with their toes pointing forward, their ankles might touch together but their knees will remain apart

Knock-Knees (genu valgum) is a complication where your child’s feet will be far apart upon standing with their knees together.

What are the causes of Bowleg and Knock-Knee?

The general cause for bowleg and knock-knee is the rate of growth in the child. However, in some cases the causes are serious and occur due to complicated medical issues in a child: These include:

• Trauma- if your child has faced a severe injury to the knee, it might cause damage to the growth plate in the knees further damaging the knee resulting in bowleg or knock-knee
• Rickets- it happens when your child is not receiving enough vitamin D or is not able to metabolize vitamin D due to an illness in the kidney, this condition can weaken or affect the bones and can result in growth disturbance
• Blount’s Disease- this condition affects the shinbone in a child resulting in growth disturbance. This disease can cause severe bowleg in children and severe cases, a child might need surgery.
• Growth Disturbance- it occurs when a child is not growing at a normal growth pace.

What are the symptoms of Bowleg and Knock-Knee?

Bowlegs are typically easy to see, but in most cases self-correct by age 3. If your child still shows any of the following symptoms after age 3, please see your paediatrician:

• Bowed legs that continue or worsen after age 3
• Knees that do not touch when the child is standing with feet and ankles touching
• Similar bowing in both legs (symmetrical)
• Reduced range of motion in hips
• Knee or hip pain that is not caused by an injury

The most prominent symptom of the knock knee is a separation of a person’s ankles when their knees are positioned together. Other symptoms, including pain, are often a result of the gait (manner of walking) adopted by people with knock knees.

These symptoms may include:

• 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
• progressive knee arthritis in adults
• patients or parents may be unhappy with aesthetics

Treatment of Bowleg and Knock-Knee:

Your child might not need treatment for bowleg and knock-knee unless there is a serious condition found in your child that includes, Blount’s disease, and in this case, the doctor might suggest surgery, in other cases, the condition might be treated without any surgical process depending upon your child’s condition.

Surgery and Non-Surgical procedures:

In non-surgical treatments, your doctor might suggest physiotherapy sessions, the use of knee braces, splints, or orthotic shoes. However, if a child requires a surgical procedure, the doctors will delay the surgery until the child reaches the age of 10 and his/her bones are mature enough for tolerating a surgical process. Surgery consists of cutting, straightening, and then holding the bones of the knee in place while they heal with metal implants, including pins, plates, and screws.

Recovery Period after the surgery:

The recovery period after the surgery is fully booked with physiotherapy sessions. After the patient has completed his/her sessions and their bones or joints are in a strong position, they can return to their daily life activities.

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