What Are Bowed Legs?
Bowlegs is a condition where one or both of your child’s legs curve outward at the knee. This curve creates a wider than normal space between your child’s knees and lower legs when their ankles are held together. Bowlegs are commonly seen in toddlers and overweight adolescents.
Bow Legged vs Knock Knees
Bowlegs and knock knee are both conditions involving the legs. In knock knee, your child’s ankles are far apart when their knees are held together. With bowlegs, your child’s knees curve outward so that the knees are apart when their ankles are held together.
What Causes Bowlegs?
The most common cause of bowlegs occurs before your child is born. When the fetus was developing, some of its fetal bones had to bend to fit in the small space. This is called physiologic genu varum.
There are other causes of bowlegs:
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Blount’s Disease: A growth disorder caused by problems with the growth plates in the upper shin bone.
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Rickets: Rickets is caused by a problem with mineral content in the bone. Without these important nutrients, your child’s bones may be more crooked.
Symptoms of Bowed Legs
The main symptom of bowed legs is an obvious space between your child’s knees when their ankles are held together. This gap is most noticeable when your child is walking. It may also be seen when your child is standing with their feet and ankles together.
Some children with bowlegs walk with their toe pointed inward (pigeon toes) or trip frequently. Bowed legs are usually painless, but may cause ankle, hip and knee discomfort as your child gets older.
How Are Bowlegs Diagnosed?
A health care provider can diagnose bowlegs. Your child’s provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about their medical history. If your child is younger than two and has bowing in both knees, they will not need testing. Instead, your provider will wait to see if your child outgrows the condition.
If your child is older than two, their health care provider may suggest more testing. An X-ray is the most common first step.
Find a Pediatric Orthopedic Doctor
Locations & Directions
PRIMARY
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
100 Mario Capecchi Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84113
801-662-1000
LEHI (MILLER CAMPUS)
PRIMARY
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
2250 N. MIller Campus Drive
Lehi, UT 84043
385-531-1000
LAYTON PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDICS
201 W Layton Pkwy
Layton, UT 84041
801-546-8450
UTAH VALLEY OUTPATIENT CENTER
1157 N 300 W Ste 302
Provo, UT 85604
801-357-4470
Bowlegs Treatment
Babies born with bowlegs usually outgrow the condition by age three or four. Treatment depends on the cause of your child’s bowlegs. Leg splints or braces are rarely used in modern treatment
If it is suspected that your child has a problem with their bone health, they will likely be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist for diagnosis and treatment.
Surgery for Bowlegs
If your child’s legs continue to bow without improvement, they may need surgery. Bowleg surgery has different options.
Your child’s surgeon may suggest adjusting the growth in your child’s shin bone. To do this, the surgeon places a small metal bracket in the leg to slow part of the growth of the leg. This allows the angle to change. Your child’s legs will slowly straighten naturally as they grow. When their bowlegs have improved, the surgeon will remove the bracket.
Another surgical option for bowleg surgery includes realigning the shin bone. Your child’s surgeon cuts the shin bone near the knee to correct the alignment. The corrected angle is held with metal pins or a plate.
Following surgery, your child will attend physical therapy to improve strength and range of motion.
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