When it comes to small children with knock-knees or bow-legs, parents in particular once again ask themselves whether this is normal and is still growing or whether it would be better to have a doctor or pediatric orthopedist take a look at it.
Are knock-knees normal in children?
First of all, the good news for all worried parents: X-legs and bow-legs in small children are completely normal and even congenital up to a certain age. Bow legs, for example, are caused by the compressed position in the womb. Knock-knees are often observed in small children.
Until when do knock-knees grow together?
According to Prof. Ralf Stücker, senior physician in pediatric orthopedics at the Altona Children’s Hospital in Hamburg, bow legs grow together on their own between the ages of 18 and 24 months when children start to walk. Then the knock-knee age begins, says Stücker. However, the knock-knees should grow together by the age of six or eight. After that, the misalignment, in which the knees are turned inwards, usually no longer disappears on its own, according to Stücker. In this case, the misalignment must be corrected with the help of a pediatric orthopedist.
Causes of knock knees
The causes of knock knees in small children are different. On the one hand they can be genetic, on the other hand they can be caused by an extreme vitamin D deficiency. In this case, the defect causes the bones to be so soft that they become deformed. Excess weight can also have a negative effect on the position of the knees and cause knock knees.
Can you correct knock-knees in children?
The good thing is that knock-knees can be corrected if they don’t straighten on their own. However, an x-ray is necessary for this because, according to Prof. Ralf Stücker, even pediatric orthopedists cannot see with the naked eye how severe the degree of misalignment is. If knock-knees in small children are mild, there is usually no surgical treatment. In moderate and severe cases, growth control must be carried out surgicallyin which small clamps are placed in the right place on the knee to prevent further bone growth.
In the case of knock-knees, the brackets are attached to the growth plate on the inner thigh or lower leg bones, whereas in bow-legs, they are attached to the outer sides of the upper or lower leg bones. Once the legs are straight again, the clamps are removed. Fortunately, the answer to the question of whether knock-knees and bow-legs can become straight again is clearly yes.
Sources: MSD manualInterview with Prof. Ralf Stücker/Apotheken Umschau
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