Blount’s disease: Help my Child with Bow Legs

“Doctor, I’ve tried everything possible to correct her bow legs. I have had to walk with her under the ‘11 am’ sun. Someone even advised getting some Vitamin D supplements for her since whatever milk and egg diet I have her on isn’t working,” Joy’s mum said. 

The doctor explained he had to run some tests on her, including an X-ray. And eventually, the X-ray confirmed that Joy had Blount’s disease. 

Named after a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Walter Putnam Blount, this disease is known to affect the lower legs. Humans have a bone called the tibia (shinbone). In children with the disease, there is a growth disorder of the bone, which causes the lower legs to angle inwards and bow in.  

Bowlegs: How is Rickets different from Blount’s disease? 

To the naked eyes, there is no difference between someone who has rickets and another person who has Blount’s disease as the lower legs are bowed in both cases. For someone with Rickets; Calcium, Vitamin D, and phosphorus, which are responsible for the proper growth and strength of bones, are deficient. Once this deficiency gets treated, someone with Rickets can have their bone corrected with time. But, this never happens with Blount’s disease. 

Causes 

Also known as Mau-Nilsonne syndrome, this disease occurs in young children and adolescents. Although the causes are unknown, it could result from genetic factors and developmental factors such as excessive compression on the tibia, as this bone helps bear the body’s weight.  

This syndrome is relatively common in children who start walking early and those who have obesity. Also, it is more common in girls and individuals of African-American descent. 

Treatment 

Although the exact cause remains unknown; there are many treatment options known to correct bone deformities caused by Blount’s disease. They are, but are not limited to: 

1. Nonsurgical intervention: For children under age 3 with noticeable bowing, bracing is a proven way to correct the defect. The idea behind this treatment method is to guide the child’s legs to grow in a straighter position as the child ages.  

1. Surgery: Adolescents, adults, and children above the age of 3 who have this disease need surgery to correct their bone defect. Some types of surgical interventions include osteotomy where the bowed parts of the bone are broken and re-aligned in a straight pattern. Other surgical techniques involve the use of staples on one side of the person’s leg to stop further growth on that side and also guide its growth into a straighter position.  

If you find that your child’s legs appear bow, it helps to not panic but speak with a healthcare professional for guidance. Blount’s disease might be disfiguring, it is completely reparable and your child can have straight-looking legs afterward.