Knock Knock: Understanding The Causes Of Knocked Knees
Knock Knees can be a normal and temporary condition that many children experience. But sometimes, it can indicate a serious underlying problem, such as bone disease or an injury to the femur(thighbone) or tibia (shinbone). Knowing and understanding the causes of knock knees can empower you to give your child the support they need for optimal orthopedic health.
Knock Knees, also known as Gena Valgum, is a condition that can be found in many children as they grow and that often corrects itself over time. However, when it fails to correct, it could be an indication of something much more serious such as skeletal dysplasia or injury to the shinbone or thighbone. Should you notice this in your own child, read on to understand the causes of knock knees.
What are Knock Knees?
The condition of Knock Knees affects the knees by tilting them inward and pushing them close together while the ankles remain in the right position, spaced apart.
Knock Knees are usually part of a child’s normal development as the legs grow and form. In other children, the knock on the knees can be more pronounced and way more severe. In these cases, it can sometimes indicate an underlying bone issue especially when knock knees first appear after the age of 6.
Sometimes, Knock Knees can be confused with Bowlegs, click here to learn the difference.
How do Knock Knees develop in Children?
As previously mentioned, knock knees can be a normal part of your child’s development in so far as they outgrow it. But it’s important to note the age of your child so you can know when it is time to be concerned.
In infants: Usually not visible or apparent as an infant. The condition of bowlegs may be present up until the age of 2, when the legs curve outward.
In toddlers: This is when you can notice knock knees for the first time in normal cases. By the time your child is 2 to 3 years old, the knees may tilt outward until the age of 4 or 5.
In young children: Knock knees should naturally align by this time, at around the 7-year mark. However, in some children knock knees may continue into their adolescence.
Symptoms: When Should You Be Concerned About Your Child’s Knocked Knees?
Since knock knees generally self-correct with age, it’s imperative that you observe your child. Keep an eye out for these unusual symptoms that may indicate something more critical:
Knock knees that show up before age 2 or after age 7
When the condition worsens after 7 years old
The legs appear asymmetrical
An inward angulation of the knees
Your child starts limping
Your child complains about hip or knee pain
When your child has an unnaturally short stature
Ankles remain apart while knees touch
An unusual walking pattern
When you notice outward-rotated feet
What Are The Causes Of Knocked Knees?
When your child’s knock knees are gradually and naturally correcting themselves then the cause is simply your child’s development.
However, when the symptoms above are consistent and the knock knees seem to worsen then the causes can point to other conditions that would require medical attention. The following conditions can be the potential cause:
Skeletal Dysplasia: a genetic condition that can also be known as metabolic bone disease such as rickets.
Obesity: weight also contributes and can cause gait abnormalities.
Injury to the Growth Area of the Shinbone (Tibia) or Thighbone (Femur): these cause the knee to tilt inward.
What Are The Treatment Options For Knock Knees?
The most common treatment required for your child is observation. As long as you keep a close eye on how your child’s legs and how they develop over time, the issue should rectify itself.
In those cases where the knock knees take a turn for the worse, there are non-surgical and surgical options available. The type of treatment will be determined by the pediatric orthopedic doctor’s findings and whether those are linked to an underlying condition.
At Pobar, the doctors will proceed to address the underlying condition so as to correct the knock knees.
The surgical procedure recommended may be Guided Growth Surgery. This corrects the issue by slowing growth on the affected side so the other side can reach the same growth level. This is done by the surgeon implanting small metal devices on the growth plates around the knees, usually on the inner side. The outer side of the knees can then keep growing, causing the legs to eventually become straighter. This is an outpatient procedure with a quick recovery time.
For Advice on What To Do About Your Child’s Knock Knees, Speak to Our Leading Pediatric Orthopedic Doctors in Brandon and Riverview, Tampa.
We’re a friendly pediatric team based in Brandon and Riverview, Tampa.
we’re pros at dealing with Knock Knees. At POBAR, we take your child’s health seriously and offer an incredibly high standard of care and knowledge. Ready to speak to one of our caring doctors?