Blount's Disease

Blount's disease is a progressive growth disorder of the shin bone that causes the lower leg to angle inward like a bowleg. Although the exact cause is not known, doctors think weight on the growth plate causes the condition, and the shin bone just below the knee fails to develop normally, causing the bone to become angled. Unlike bowlegs, which tend to straighten with age, Blount's disease is progressive and the angle becomes worse, leading to severe bowing in one or both legs. Blount's is associated with obesity and early walking and is more prevalent in girls and African-American children. Blount’s does seem to run in families, although there does not seem to be a specific genetic correlation.

It is important to treat Blount's disease aggressively, as the disease worsens with growth. Children who develop severe bowing before age three may be treated with bracing. Surgery to realign and sometimes lengthen the shin bone may be required if bracing does not successfully stop the deformation. For children whose bowing is less severe and who have significant growth remaining, a more moderate surgery can slow the growth on the opposite (longer) side of the bone. Blount's can also recur after surgery, especially in younger children.

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