While it is perfectly normal for a baby to be born with bowed legs, the legs should straighten out as the child grows. If your child's legs are not straightening out, the child may have a condition known as Blount's disease, or bow legs. If you catch this problem at an early age, the problem can be treated and fixed in most cases. Here are three things you should know about this condition if you suspect that your child has Blount's disease.
What To Look For
By the time your child is three years old, the child's legs should be straight. If you see any signs of bowing, contact your child's doctor. The doctor is likely to send you to an orthopedic doctor for further examination and diagnosis.
If a three-year old child still has signs of bowing in one or both legs, the child will most likely suffer from this problem for the rest of his life if you fail to seek treatment. While bowed legs do not present huge health risks, it can be embarrassing and can lead to certain health problems.
Health Risks It May Lead To
Bowed legs occur for several reasons, but the primary reason is due to an abnormal growth of the leg bones. The child's lower legs each contain a primary bone called the tibia. When the outer part of the tibia grows without the inner part growing, the result is bowing on the legs. Bowing of the legs results in a gap between the knees when the child is standing, and there are health risks because of this gap, including:
- Increased chance of hip problems
- Increased risk of knee problems
- Potential for back problems
Each of these risks exists because the legs are not in the right position. This causes increased pressure on all body parts, but it primarily affects the knees and hips. If the knees and hips are out of place, it can lead to back pain and problems. A person with bowed legs may end up developing arthritis in any of these areas because of this added pressure.
Treatment Options
If the condition is minor, your child's orthopedic doctor might recommend corrective shoes. These shoes generally contain raised areas, which are designed to push the leg bones into proper position. For cases that are worse than minor, the doctor might recommend one of the following treatment options:
Leg Braces
A doctor might suggest placing braces on the child's lower legs. The child will have to wear these for 23 hours a day, and the braces are changed monthly in most cases. The braces apply pressure to the legs, and this pressure is often enough to change the shape and alignment of the bones.
This method is great for children because their bones are still growing. If treatment for Blount's disease does not take place until adulthood, this is usually not an effective method.
Surgery
Surgical options are also used, especially when a child has a very severe case of bow legs. During the main type of corrective surgery for this disorder, the surgeon cuts the tibia bones and the fibulas. The purpose is to realign the bones so that they grow straight instead of curved.
After the surgery, the doctor might place casts on the legs to help them heal, and it may take eight weeks or longer for the legs to heal from this surgery.
If your infant has legs that are bowed, there is no need to worry. You should keep an eye on your child's legs as he or she grows up though. If you notice a problem, it is better to seek treatment from an orthopedic doctor when the child is young.
