Knee problem help please! (bowleg)

[hchen5]

Hi everyone, I have a mild case of bowleg (genu varum ). Does this condition slows or stops the growth of leg bones? It has not cause me any pain, but should i get it treated anyway?

[Nettan]

First of all, how old are you ?
If you never had any problems with knees so far, a surgery isn't something you just do.
Once started with surgeries there can be an endless road of surgeries. Has someone mentioned that this would be a problem in the future for you ?

[hchen5]

Thanks for the help, i am 19 years old. The only reason i want to get it treated because i thought i might get a few inches if i get my legs straighten. Well my legs aren't that bowed. Can brace correct the problem?
Also, can someone answer my first question whether bow leg can stunt or slows the growth of leg bones?

[hchen5]

anyone?

[Mandy]

hey there~

i'm 20 years old and am bowlegged as well.  however, mine is due to osteoarthritis as a result of my previous surgeon messing up one of my surgeries.  because i am in college right now and cannot afford to miss any classes for surgery/recovery, my current OS has me in a medial unloader brace.  this brace takes the load off my medial compartment that has the arthritis.  it has helped just wonders to be honest!!  my brace was a custom brace made by innovation sports. 

the surgery i have to have is called a high tibial osteotomy.  my OS didn't want to do it right now as it'd mess with my clinical rotations here at school, and is a long and sometimes difficult recovery.  i know i'll have to be overnite in the hospital for about 2-3 days, non weightbearing on crutches for minimum of 4 weeks, and possibly 8 weeks of crutches total, and 10 weeks of wearing a post op ROM brace.....not exactly a fun time!!

i'm not exactly sure about the whole gaining more inches and whatnot, but even if you would get some height back i'd doubt it'd be anything huge.  i would think too that since you're 19 your bones are almost done growing, but i could definitely be wrong.

let me know if i can answer any other questions for you!!

[hchen5]

hey there~

i'm 20 years old and am bowlegged as well.  however, mine is due to osteoarthritis as a result of my previous surgeon messing up one of my surgeries.  because i am in college right now and cannot afford to miss any classes for surgery/recovery, my current OS has me in a medial unloader brace.  this brace takes the load off my medial compartment that has the arthritis.  it has helped just wonders to be honest!!  my brace was a custom brace made by innovation sports. 

the surgery i have to have is called a high tibial osteotomy.  my OS didn't want to do it right now as it'd mess with my clinical rotations here at school, and is a long and sometimes difficult recovery.  i know i'll have to be overnite in the hospital for about 2-3 days, non weightbearing on crutches for minimum of 4 weeks, and possibly 8 weeks of crutches total, and 10 weeks of wearing a post op ROM brace.....not exactly a fun time!!

i'm not exactly sure about the whole gaining more inches and whatnot, but even if you would get some height back i'd doubt it'd be anything huge.  i would think too that since you're 19 your bones are almost done growing, but i could definitely be wrong.

let me know if i can answer any other questions for you!!

Thanks for the reply, where can i get the medial unloader brace? also, does the condition cause you pain?

[hchen5]

help please

[Mandy]

ahh I'm really sorry!  I didn't see you had responded to the post the first time!!

I think the only way you can get an unloader brace is from your OS.  My OS set up an appointment for me to go to the prostetic and orthotic place to get fitted for it.  Within about 2 weeks I got the brace that was customized for my knee and have been wearing it ever since.  The bow leggedness does tend to cause me some pain from the osteoarthritis. My cartilage is essentially wearing down and the added pressure my medial compartment has due to being bowlegged just hurts all the time.

This is to buy me some time until I can get my knee fixed hopefully this spring/summer.  Let me know if you have any other questions!!
~Mandy

[kathat]

Hi,
I'm bowlegged to some degree, but none of my problems are from that. It may possibly contribute to arthritis of the medial compartment later in life, in which case bracing or an osteotomy could be considered. Bracing would only help in relieving existing arthritis but won't straighten your legs that I am aware of. It may be worth looking into an unloader brace if you wish to play lots of high impact sports or jog, as these are also contributing factors to arthritis, so the sports and bowleggedness may combine to cause early arthritis. An orthopaedic surgeon could give you more answers, as could a good physio who specialises in legs/knees. A physio could also give you some good exercises to do to strengthen your legs and help prevent arthritis. I am a decent height, so being bowlegged hasn't stunted my growth, and certainly isn't a cause of stunted growth that I've ever heard of in my career as a nurse. Overall, I wouldn't worry too much though. Despite playing lots of sport, including running, and being bowlegged, all my arthritis is from patellar tilt and maltracking and poor joint biomechanics (knee and ankle). My weightbearing surfaces of my medial compartments are pristine (wish the rest of my knees were!!). If you are concerned then start with a physio. They will soon tell you if you need to go to an orthopaedic surgeon.
Good luck,
Kathy

[Dr.Veklich]

Hello,

Here you could look at video that describes a patient's experience (UK) regarding bow legs correction treatment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgw2mkiwNII

Also you could look at video of a patient's interview regarding bow
legs correction treatment in two parts:
Part 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnZBlMEdGNs
Part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJyyz7sn6Vc

Dr.Veklich