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Bowing of the tibia

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Lateral bowing is not uncommon in infants and is normal in a child less than 2 years old. It can be caused by a growth disturbance of the tibial epiphysis and the tibial shaft.

  • common from birth to the early toddler, often with out-toeing (maximal at approx. 1 year); most resolve by 18 months (1)

Consider and exclude rickets - particularly in individuals with a high phytate intake e.g. chapati eaters and vegetarians.

Measurement of the degree of deformity can be achieved by:

  • getting the patient to stand with both patellae facing forward and then measuring the distance between them
  • radiographic estimation: the angle between the longitudinal axes of both the femur and the tibia

Severe deformation may be amenable to osteotomy.

Notes:

  • anterior bowing is always significant; causes include:
    • congenital absence of the fibula
    • neurofibromatosis type 1
    • osteogenesis imperfecta
  • posterior bowing:
    • is rare
    • looks serious, but usually responds to simple stretching and splinting

Reference:

  • ARC. Sports-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. Reports on the Rheumatic Diseases 2008;14.

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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