Children presenting with physiological knock knees do not require treatment or ongoing monitoring, as they will grow out of it with time. Conservative treatments may be beneficial such as exercises and weight loss programs to reduce obesity and improve knee movement in children, or knee braces and foot orthoses for painful osteoarthritis associated with knock knees in adults.
Children with severe or worsening pathological knock knees might need orthopaedic surgery to correct their knee alignment, particularly in the presence of persistent pain or disability, regardless of the underlying cause. There are many operations for pathological knock knees. This then corrects the knee angle to a straighter position. A study reporting outcomes two years after this operation showed correction in 34 of 38 knock knees.
Another surgical procedure for pathological knock knees is a wedge osteotomy, where the top of the shin bone or bottom of the thigh bone is cut and a small portion removed to correct the knee alignment. In a study of 23 adolescents and adults with painful arthritic knock knees, a wedge osteotomy was found to show improvements in walking ability and alignment after two years.
Orthopaedic surgery is rarely needed. For most kids, knock knees are just a normal part of growing up. University home. This usually corrects itself as the child grows. Knock knees that persist beyond six years of age, are severe or affect one leg significantly more than the other may be a sign of knock-knee syndrome.
Most children experience normal angular changes in their legs as they grow. Children are typically bowlegged until they begin walking at around 12 to 18 months. By about 2 to 3 years of age, their legs have usually begun to angle inward, making them knock-kneed.
During normal growth phases, the child's legs will straighten out by age 7 to 8. Knock knees that remain outside of these normal developmental growth patterns may be caused by disease, infection or other conditions. If the angle of the legs from hip to foot falls outside normal patterns, worsens over time, or is present on only one side of the body, this suggests a person has a more serious form of knock knees, and further evaluation by an orthopedic specialist may be necessary.
Surgery may be needed to treat the condition. X-rays: Left preoperative image showing knock knee. Right postoperative image showing leg alignment after surgical correction and removal of metal plates. Knock knee can be caused by an underlying congenital or developmental disease or arise after an infection or a traumatic knee injury.
Common causes of knock knees include:. Other symptoms, including pain, are often a result of the gait manner of walking adopted by people with knock knees. A person may also have other symptoms from an underlying condition that is causing the knock-knee syndrome. In people of all age groups who have knock knees, one or both knees is abnormally overloaded.
However, knock knees can very occasionally be a sign of an underlying condition that needs treatment, especially if the condition develops in older children or adults, or doesn't improve with age. If someone with knock knees stands with their knees together, their lower legs will be spread out so their feet and ankles are further apart than normal.
A small distance between the ankles is normal, but in people with knock knees this gap can be up to 8cm just over 3 inches or more. Knock knees don't usually cause any other problems, although a few severe cases may cause knee pain , a limp or difficulty walking. Knock knees that don't improve on their own can also place your knees under extra pressure, which may increase your risk of developing arthritis. Knock knees in children aren't usually a cause for concern and should improve as your child gets older.
Your GP will examine your or your child's legs, ask about any pain or walking difficulties, and may take some measurements. They may refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon a specialist in bone and joint problems and arrange an X-ray of your legs and blood tests to check for underlying problems. We have extensive experience treating disorders of the feet, ankles, knees, legs, and hips. Whether the patient is an infant, child, or adolescent, our goal is to help our patients live full, independent lives.
For Patients. Contact the Lower Extremity Program International Knock Knees. What is knock knees? Knock knees in infants: Knock knees are not typical in infants. However, many infants have bowlegs, a condition in which both legs curve outward, up until they are about 24 months old.
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