Bowlegs in Adults and Children
Having bowlegs means there is an outward curving of your knee even when your ankles are together. The hips, knees and ankles fall in a straight line when you stand. If you draw a line and it passes inside the gap between your legs, that is called genu varum or bowlegs.
Bowlegs between children and adults are different. You will see that a large number of children possess physiological bowlegs. However, those are benign and intend to slowly correct with time. Bowlegs in children go away by the age of 5.
On the other hand, bowlegs in adults do not spontaneously resolve themselves. It tends to worsen to further misalignment as arthritis leads. Bowlegs become independent risk factors in adults developing knee joint degeneration and pain. The correction of bowlegs before the onset of end-stage arthritis can delay or prevent the need for knee replacement.
To learn more about this, you can visit a knee specialist at any podiatrist clinic in Singapore. They are also great at dealing with toenail fungus treatment.
2 Kinds of Correction Treatment
There are two kinds of bow-legged treatment you can get. They both aim to correct limb alignment, stop disease progression and reduce the risk of further joint degeneration. Of course, you should consult your doctor first to determine which treatment suit your needs better.
- Acute Osteotomy
The correction of bowlegs is done inside an operating room by cutting the bone. Screws are placed to stabilise the cut bone. The legs will be non-weight-bearing for 6 to 8 weeks.
- External Fixators
Gradual correction of bowlegs is applied with external fixators. An external adjustable frame connected to the bone with wires and pins is attached to the leg by a surgeon. The patient can do their daily activities but need to visit the doctor every few weeks.
Conclusion
Visiting a specialist as early as possible will help refrain further complications from occurring. Prevention of complications will save you from pain and treatment. You should seek expert help as soon as possible. Specialist clinics like East Coast Podiatry do not only address bone problems; they can also help you with your nail fungus treatment.
