Blount’s disease

Blount’s disease

The aetiology of the disordered growth in the posteromedial proximal tibial physis is unknown. The infantile form is more Walter Putnam Blount , 1900–1992, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery , Marquette University , Milwaukee, WI, USA, described this condition in 1937. disease a ff ects all ethnic groups. The child presents with progressive and often severe tibia vara with significant intoeing. The radiographic features are diagnostic ( Figure 44.27 ). Treatment is surgical: following correction of limb align - ment via an osteotomy , an epiphysiodesis of the remaining physis prevents recurrence. In unilateral cases, the limb – once straightened – is short and concomitant tibial lengthening with an external fixator is often an attractive option.

Figure 44.27 Standing leg length and alignment radiograph of a child with bilateral asymmetrical bow legs. Both proximal medial tibial physes/epiphyses are abnormal: this is bilateral Blount’s disease.

Blount’s disease

The aetiology of the disordered growth in the posteromedial proximal tibial physis is unknown. The infantile form is more Walter Putnam Blount , 1900–1992, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery , Marquette University , Milwaukee, WI, USA, described this condition in 1937. disease a ff ects all ethnic groups. The child presents with progressive and often severe tibia vara with significant intoeing. The radiographic features are diagnostic ( Figure 44.27 ). Treatment is surgical: following correction of limb align - ment via an osteotomy , an epiphysiodesis of the remaining physis prevents recurrence. In unilateral cases, the limb – once straightened – is short and concomitant tibial lengthening with an external fixator is often an attractive option.

Figure 44.27 Standing leg length and alignment radiograph of a child with bilateral asymmetrical bow legs. Both proximal medial tibial physes/epiphyses are abnormal: this is bilateral Blount’s disease.

Blount’s disease

The aetiology of the disordered growth in the posteromedial proximal tibial physis is unknown. The infantile form is more Walter Putnam Blount , 1900–1992, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery , Marquette University , Milwaukee, WI, USA, described this condition in 1937. disease a ff ects all ethnic groups. The child presents with progressive and often severe tibia vara with significant intoeing. The radiographic features are diagnostic ( Figure 44.27 ). Treatment is surgical: following correction of limb align - ment via an osteotomy , an epiphysiodesis of the remaining physis prevents recurrence. In unilateral cases, the limb – once straightened – is short and concomitant tibial lengthening with an external fixator is often an attractive option.

Figure 44.27 Standing leg length and alignment radiograph of a child with bilateral asymmetrical bow legs. Both proximal medial tibial physes/epiphyses are abnormal: this is bilateral Blount’s disease.