Blount
disease
Blountdisease is a very rare disorder affecting children, causing legs to bow
outwards below the knees. It is also called as tibia vara. Small amount of
bowing is natural in infants. As most children begin walking at an early age
which is between 1 and 2 years, their legs get straight gradually. But at times
it may need correction. It affects children younger than 4 years of age.
Symptoms
·A growing pain in the knee area.
·The tibia can rotate the feet inward
instead of outward.
·If the disease not treated, can lead to
arthritis.
Causes
·Overweight.
·Genetic.
Physical
Therapy
The
physical therapy helps in all stages. The braces are used to treat the children
who are younger than 30 months or are in the beginning stage of disease. The
brace which is prescribed by the physician is known as HKAFO
(hip-knee-ankle-foot orthosis), or KAFO (knee-ankle-foot orthosis). The braces
must be worn for upto 2 years to see the changes in shape of the shin bone. If
there is no improvement till 1 year of wearing it , then surgery is
recommended.
Surgery
If the blount disease has advanced and, brace treatment is not
working , then surgery may be necessary. When you are in hospital for the
surgery, a physical therapist will teach the child how to use walker or crutches
and how to put right amount of weight on floor, to avoid the injury to the
surgical repair of leg.
The therapist will teach you and your
child some basic exercises to keep the leg healthy, regain the strength and
joint movement. After discharge, most of the patients visit the therapist twice
or thrice a week for better results.
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