Why Bow Legs and Knock Knees Lead to Deforming Arthrosis
Author: Doctor Vitaliy Veklich Orthopaedic surgeon and Doctor of Medicine - Ladisten Orthopaedic Clinic - Kiev, Ukraine
Published: 2010/06/21 - Updated: 2018/05/25
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications
Synopsis: Bow legs and knock knees are deformities that can lead to knee-joint movement abnormality and result in deforming arthrosis.
Introduction
Bow legs and knock knees are deformities that can lead to knee-joint movement abnormality and result in deforming arthrosis.
Main Content
- Bow legs (genu varum) - A condition where legs have deformity outward of natural legs position.
- Knock knees (genu valgum) - A condition where legs have deformity inward of natural legs position.
- Deforming arthrosis - A disorder of the knee joint, generally implying early joint surface damage.
- Leg axis - Conventional axis that shows how the body weight distributes among leg joints.
- Articular cartilage - A type of dense connective tissue. It can supply smooth surfaces for the movement of articulating bones.
Bow legs (genu varum) and knock knees (genu valgum) are deformities that are not only cosmetic defects. But they can also lead to knee-joint movement abnormality that may result in deforming arthrosis.
If we look at picture 1 we find out that normal body weight distribution is when the leg axis go straight through femoral head, center of the knee-joint and center of articulation of foot. In this case the body weight distributes naturally and articular cartilage of knee-joint have equal weight distribution at full surface. There is a natural position of knee-joint that allows to save the articular cartilage in health during years.
When a Person Has Bow Legs or Knock Knees
Look at picture 2. You can see that the leg axises go still straight through the femoral head and center of articulation of the foot but do not go through center of the knee-joint. So body weight distribution change and regarding the knee-joint one part of the knee have more loading than another.
- Bow legs has more loading of the inner part of knee-joint.
- Knock knee has more loading of theouter part of knee-joint.
So articular cartilage of knee-joints have different weight distribution at surface that leads to its attrition in the part where the loading is maximum. In time the articular cartilage attrition leads to deforming arthrosis and a person feels pain in knee-joints.
Appearance of deforming arthrosis usually happens in senior years - but sometimes it happens in middle age depending on individual health of each person.
The only way to protect yourself from appearance of knee-joint deforming arthrosis is the surgery for bow legs and knock knees correction.
With the surgery the leg axis become natural position so articular cartilage of knee-joint get equal weight distribution at full surface and keeps its health in years. Also there is a cosmetic effect that lets a person feel more comfortable around other people.
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Doctor Vitaliy Veklich Orthopaedic surgeon and Doctor of Medicine - Ladisten Orthopaedic Clinic - Kiev, Ukraine and published on 2010/06/21, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.