Development of the legs in children
Written by:Children are developing the position of his legs over his early years, but you know when you are within normal and when to go to an expert. To this we must define what we call angular pattern, meaning the aspect having the lower limbs of children looking at them from the front when we see standing with legs together.
In this position we mean rods knees or "genu" when touching ankles, knees are apart and legs are bowed outward. The term of knock knees or "genu valgus" is called when the knees are touching, the ankles are separated and legs are available in X.
There is great personal variability in the angular pattern changes as the child develops. Naturally the following situations (picture) occur:
• Birth: there is a normal genu varus (up to 15 degrees on average).
• Up to 2 years: genu varus loss to be totally aligned legs.
• Until 3-4 years: a progressive genuvalgum (up to 11 degrees on average).
• Up to 7 years: realignment with loss of some worth.
The anatomic final situation is moderate genu valgus around 7 degrees on average, varying degrees of a scale DE10, so it is normal to find from mild to moderate varus valgus.
Exploring
If the bowing of the legs is normal or not, is a valuation to be performed by a specialist in pediatric orthopedics through proper exploration of the limbs of the child.
First, you can measure the distance between the ankles in the genu valgus or varus knees genu. In this exploration should be considered outside the normal range separating knees above 6 cm or separation of ankles above 8 cm. Second, the shaft must be explored charging leg. For this tape is placed from the hip to the second toe and checked falls within the knee.
In this case, it is outside the normal range when the loading axis is external or internal to the knee. On examination should be noted that the clinical appearance is usually worse when the child is standing on when is stretched on the couch, you have to know that knee flexion increases the appearance of genu varus knee extension and increases the aspect of genu valgus. In addition, the specialist should note that changes in the rotational pattern modify the angular look.
In examining the legs in profile they should be aligned and should enable a full knee extension. However, it is possible to perform a forward extension of the knee beyond normal. This is called "recurvatum" knee, this is common in young children and especially in the feminine sex due to the high elasticity of the tissues and joints. But it is no longer normal forward movement exceeds 20 degrees. Likewise, it is not normal to not be able to fully straighten the knee.
When to See a Specialist
So far explained the process of development is common and can lead the child to be more clumsy and fall during this process of change, so we should not worry. We do have to be alerted and see a specialist if available:
1. A separation of the knees than 6 cm when ankles are together.
2. A separation of greater than 8 cm ankles when the knees are together.
3. If the knee does not get a full extension.
4. If the knee extends over 20 degrees forward.
5. When there is a marked asymmetry between the leg and another.