There are both normal and abnormal instances of bow-leggedness, and treatment may vary among patients according to the cause.
Normal Bow-leggedness
Most children up to age four have some degree of bow-leggedness due to the time they spent in the cramped quarters of the womb. Babies often have a space between their knees, and the soles of their feet face each other.
When a child first learns to walk, he may appear bowlegged. However, after he becomes a steady walker, the bow-leggedness will gradually go away, and the limbs will become better able to support the weight of the body. The knees will begin sloping closer together and both the femur and tibia will straighten. The soles of the feet will begin facing downward.
While a slight degree of bow-leggedness is normal, parents concerned about their child should consult a pediatric orthopedist to measure knee angles and the pain level of the child. Unless otherwise warranted, an orthopedist may only see a child past three years of age who is still bowlegged.
Abnormal Bow-leggedness
Abnormal bow-leggedness, in which the bow-legs may worsen or remain the same and persist after age three, can be caused by:
- Sickness, including rickets (vitamin D deficiency)
- Blount’s disease, a rare bone disorder
- Improper nutrition
- Skeletal abnormalities
- Tumors
- Infection
- Physical trauma
Abnormal cases of bow-leggedness can result in difficulty walking and a predisposition toward arthritis. Treatment may be necessary, especially if the curvature of the legs worsens instead of improving.
Treating Bow-Leggedness
First, bow-legs are diagnosed through a physical exam and x-rays. A blood exam may also be performed to check for vitamin deficiencies. If the cause of the bow-legs is malnutrition, supplements will be prescribed.
However, if the bow-legs are caused by a trauma, skeletal deformity, or bone disease, they may warrant immediate medical treatment. Severe bowing before the age of three may be partially corrected with a brace or orthopedics to assist in straightening the bone, and to allow the child to grow before performing surgery.
Surgery should only be done as a last resort and if recommended by the pediatric orthopedist, as it requires at least two months recovery time and can be traumatic for the child. In either case, children will work with a physical therapist to assist in post-operative care or with the braces and gait training.
According to Baby Bowlegged.net, if bow-legs are not treated properly at an early age, it may result in permanent damage to the growth plate and growing bone, and arthritis may set in. Patients with bow-legs must have constant medical care throughout their developmental years.
Related Article:
Rickets Due to Vitamin D Deficiency
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