What are the Characteristic Features of Blount Disease?

Blount Disease is disorder found in children and adolescents which affects the lower leg causing it to move outwards. Blount Disease may affect a child at any age but is mostly seen in teen years or in children below three years of age. The main reason behind development of Blount Disease is the excessive pressure that is put on the growth plate on the top of the tibia. This growth plate is called as physis and it facilitates normal growth of the bones throughout the growing ages of the child. As a result of this abnormal pressure being put on the growth plate, the outer portion of the tibia keeps growing normally but the growth of the inner portion of the tibia gets affected such that it stops growing. This results in bending of the tibia outwards instead of growing straight.

Blount Disease is a condition which tends to worsen as the child grows if it is not treated appropriately. Thus early diagnosis and prompt treatment is recommended for children with Blount Disease.

Bow Legs: Bowing of the leg below the knee is the primary presenting feature of Blount Disease. This as stated above is due to the abnormal pressure put on the physis or the growth plate resulting in the tibia starting to bend outwards instead of growing straight.

The bowing of the legs is normally painless in small children but if this occurs in teenagers then this may result in pain in and around the knee. This pain tends to wax and wane and can be relieved by normal over the counter pain medications but tends to occur again when the effect of the medication wears off.

Intoeing: Intoeing is a condition which may present itself as a result of Blount Disease. This is because of the tibia getting rotated and bowed causing the toes to point inwards instead of straight.

Arthritis: Blount Disease, if not treated, may ultimately lead to early arthritis of the knees and the affected individual may have difficulty with ambulation as a result of Blount Disease.

Leg Length Discrepancy: Leg length discrepancy as a result of bowing of one leg is yet another characteristic feature that tends to present itself as a result of Blount Disease.

Also Read:

• Blount’s Disease or Tibia Vara: Classification, Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Treatment
• Bowlegs or Bandy Legs: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Surgery, Recovery, Prognosis, Complications