2: Children's normal growth and development Flashcards
What is genu varum?
Bow legs
(curling inwards)
What is genu valgum?
Knock knees
(curling outwards)
Which type of leg abnormality is physiological in developing children?
Both of them
genu varum first, then genu valgum
By which process does bone grow longitudinally?
Enchondral ossification
By which process does bone growth circumfrentially?
Appositional growth
What are some factors affecting bone growth?
Nutrition
Sunshine - Vit D
Injury
Illness
Hormones - growth hormone
What are used to track the growth of children and compare it to the average?
Growth charts
What are some (usually) normal variations seen in developing children?
Genu varum / valgum
Intoeing
Flat feet
Curly toes
Bow-leggedness is also known as genu ___.
Knock knees is also known as genu ___.
bow legs - genu varum
knock knees - genu valgus
Most people have slight genu (varum / valgum) once they’ve grown up.
slight genu valgum
When should a child with genu varum be referred to paediatric orthopaedics?
Severe bowleggedness
Short stature
In pain
What are some conditions which can cause pathological genu varum?
Dysplasia of skeleton
Rickett’s (Vitamin D deficiency)
Tumours (e.g enchondroma)
Blount’s disease
Trauma
What is Blount’s disease?
What sign can be seen on X-ray?
MEDIAL TIBIAL PHYSIS stops growing for unknown reasons
Bird-beak protrusion medially
What are some pathological causes of genu valgum?
Tumours again
Rickett’s again
Neurofibromatosis
What can be used to treat knee malalignments like genu varum and valgum?
Surgical intervention
Osteotomy, internal fixation, external fixation