Genoa valgus

Genua valga ( bowed knees ) are characterized by an increase in the physiological valgusity of the knee joints (one-/two-sided). At the age of 3-4 years, this is a common finding.

Etiology
The reasons can be different:


 * in children – hypoplasia of the lateral femoral condyle, chondrodystrophy , osteogenesis imperfecta , rickets , increased joint laxity, metabolic diseases, fractures,
 * in adults – conditions after inflammation of the knee joint, intra-articular fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, arthrosis of the lateral joint surfaces.

Clinical manifestations

 * the knees touch with their inner surfaces, the lower leg turns to the side → "legs in X" ,
 * the medial condyle of the femur protrudes,
 * often associated with a flexible planovalgus position of the foot.

Subjective difficulties

 * tiring walking, difficulty running, retropatellar pain, ligamentous instability of the knee, cosmetics.

Size rating

 * intermalleolar distance (IMD) – the distance between the inner ankles, physiologically up to 2 cm,
 * angle between the longitudinal axes of the lower leg and femur,
 * physiological valgusness of the knee joint averages 6 °.

Treatment
A finding in childhood usually resolves without treatment.


 * With an IMD of around 8 cm → exercise, modification of shoes – increasing the sole on the inside of the shoe.

On failure → night splints  .


 * Operative treatment


 * temporary growth arrest by medial hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal femur according to Blount , supracondylar correction osteotomy of the femur.

Related Articles [ edit | edit source ]

 * Genoa vara
 * Hereditary osteonychodysplasia
 * Congenital multiple exostoses
 * Marfan syndrome
 * Enchondromatosis
 * Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia

References [ edit | edit source ]

 * SOSNA, A, P VAVŘÍK and M KRBEC, et al. Basics of orthopedics. 1st edition. Prague: Triton, 2001. 175 pp.  ISBN 80-7254-202-8.


 * Dungl, P, et al. Orthopedics. 1st edition. Prague: Grada Publishing, 2005. 1273 pp.  ISBN 80-247-0550-8.

References [ edit | edit source ]

 * 1) ↑Jump up to:a b c d DUNGL, P., et al. Orthopedics. 1st edition. Prague: Grada Publishing, 2005.  ISBN 80-247-0550-8.
 * 2) ↑Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j SOSNA, A., P. VAVŘÍK and M. KRBEC, et al. Basics of orthopedics. 1st edition. Prague: Triton, 2001.  ISBN 80-7254-202-8.