Knee Varus Deformity
What is a Knee Varus Deformity?
Varus deformity is an inward angulation (medial angulation, that is, toward the body’s mid-line) of the distal segment of a leg.
Also known as Bow-legged or Genu varum.
Causes of Knee Varus Deformity
→ When the knee is not perfectly aligned, otherwise known as Mal-aligned.
→ Mal-alignment of the knees is more frequently seen in toddlers, and fortunately, the legs will straighten out as the child grows and matures.
→ Less commonly, knee Mal-alignment is caused by a congenital condition like Blount’s disease or the nutritional disorder Rickets (from vitamin D deficiency).
→ Young children develop varus knee as a result of rickets (a disease associated with low levels of vitamin D that causes soft bones)
→ In adults, knee Mal-alignment can be caused by knee trauma, or arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis.
→ Dwarfism: The most common form of dwarfism is caused by achondroplasia. (bone growth disorder)
→ Lateral knee trust and waddling gait pattern also lead to genu varus.
→ Congenital Genu Varum
→ Bone Tumours
→ Paget’s Disease Of The Bone.
→ Achondroplacia.
What are Common Symptoms Seen in Knee Varus?
- Bow-leg in the knee joint
- Knee pain
- Difficulty in walking.
- Osteoarthritis changes in the knee joint.
- Swelling around the knee joint.
Diagnosis
→ Radiological examination: X-ray taken form AP and Lateral view
→ Varus stress test by physiotherapist.
Treatment
The cause will determine how to treat a varus knee. If rickets is the cause, your child may just need to take vitamin D or calcium supplements while the condition is still mild. Supplements can be sufficient in some cases to strengthen bones and treat conditions.
Surgery is needed for the majority of other reasons, including more severe rickets. Physical therapy and weight training can assist in strengthening the muscles that surround your leg bones in mild cases that don’t cause much pain. They cannot, however, straighten your bones.
Surgical Treatment
A high tibial osteotomy is the most popular procedure used to treat varus knees without severe osteoarthritis, especially in younger patients. By reshaping the bone and cutting into it, this treatment realigns the tibia. This releases the strain that improper tibiofemoral alignment had been putting on your knee.
Osteotomy surgery can help you avoid, or at least delay, the need for total knee replacement surgery if you have a varus knee.
You must wait three to eight months after a high tibial osteotomy operation before returning to your usual level of activities. Additionally, you’ll need to wear a brace for at least a couple of months. If you find this rehabilitation period to be overwhelming, keep in mind that total knee replacement surgery, which an osteotomy operation may be able to delay in some cases, frequently necessitates up to a year of recovery.
Physiotherapy Treatment
→ Some heat modalities may be given for relief of pain. Like IFT, SWD, and TENS are given.
→ Strengthening exercises for the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus muscles are given.
→ When the patient is able to walk, he is given correct training for standing, balancing, weight transferring, and walking.
Prognosis of Genu Varum
- Congenital Deformity Of Genu-Varum takes time to recover and mostly as child develop no other symptom.
- While in Acquired deformities are easily recovered as compared to congenital with the help of physiotherapy and prosthesis.
FAQs
What causes genu varus?
Rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions that interfere with healthy bone development are the most frequent causes of genu varum. One leg may be bow-shaped if skeletal issues, infections, or tumours interfere with the leg’s development.
What is genu varus and valgus?
A knee in varus position is referred to as genu varum (upper panel). The apex of the angle created by the bones on either side of a joint with varus abnormalities points away from the body. The knee is aligned in valgus when it is genu valgum (bottom panel).
Can genu varus be corrected?
Genu Varus can be corrected. A structural variation from the usual alignment of the bones is the varus deformity around the knee. Your muscles and bones will become stronger with exercise, stretching, strengthening, physical therapy, Knee Bracing, and vitamins, but the shape of the bones won’t change.
How do you treat knee varus?
A high tibial osteotomy is the most popular procedure used to treat varus knees without severe osteoarthritis, especially in younger patients. By reshaping the bone and cutting into it, this treatment realigns the tibia. This releases the strain that improper tibiofemoral alignment had been putting on your knee.
Is varus knee normal?
No, One well-known factor contributing to knee osteoarthritis is varus alignment. It may be caused by tibial deformity, tibial-femoral combination deformity, or ligament imbalance. In order to reestablish the frontal plane neutral mechanical axis following total knee arthroplasty, malalignment must be understood.
What is genu varus knees?
One or both of your child’s legs will curve outward at the knees if they have bow legs, also known as genu varum. The outcome is a broader than usual space between the knees and lower legs. The youngster stands with his or her feet and ankles together, knees still wide apart.
What is a genu varum?
When the feet and ankles are in contact and the legs curve outward at the knees, this is referred to as having bow legs or having genu varum. Babies and early children frequently have bow-legged limbs. Even older kids do it occasionally. By the time a child is 3 to 4 years old, it typically goes away on its own without therapy and is hardly ever significant.
Author: Nitesh Patel - Physiotherapist
Physiotherapist in Samarpan Physiotherapy Clinic Ahmedabad Bapunagar Amaraiwadi Vastral Mobile Physiotherapy Clinic Dr. Nitesh Patel ( Physiotherapist ) : Mo No : 09898607803
Hi I have a varus misalightment with a mishapen left knee and would appreciate what excercise I could undertake to preserve the other knee from developing a similar problem
Also woud you recommend a knee brace that would help partly straighten the knee and offer an opportunity to help correct my walking I do from time to time use a walking stick in the street though indoors no problem at all Also when I have had occasion to dance to music there was no cause for anxiety
Appreciate your help
Thanks
Geoff Garfield