 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2010) |
| Genu valgum | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Knock knee |
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| A very severe case of genu valgum of the left knee following bone cancer treatment | |
| Specialty | Medical genetics  |
Genu valgum, commonly called "knock-knee", is a condition in which the knees angle in and touch each other when the legs are straightened.[1] Individuals with severe valgus deformities are typically unable to touch their feet together while simultaneously straightening the legs. The term originates from Latin genu 'knee' and valgus 'bent outwards', but is also used to describe the distal portion of the knee joint which bends outwards and thus the proximal portion seems to be bent inwards.
Mild genu valgum is diagnosed when a person standing upright with the feet touching also shows the knees touching. It can be seen in children from ages 2 to 5, and is often corrected naturally as children grow. The condition may continue or worsen with age, particularly when it is the result of a disease, such as rickets.[2] Idiopathic genu valgum is a form that is either congenital or has no known cause.
Other systemic conditions may be associated, such as Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy, an autosomal dominant condition frequently reported with hyperlipidemia.
- ^ "Genu Valgum". The Lecturio Medical Concept Library. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ EL-Sobky, TA; Samir, S; Baraka, MM; Fayyad, TA; Mahran, MA; Aly, AS; Amen, J; Mahmoud, S (1 January 2020). "Growth modulation for knee coronal plane deformities in children with nutritional rickets: A prospective series with treatment algorithm". JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews. 4 (1): e19.00009. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-19-00009. PMC 7028784. PMID 32159063.