II. Physiology: Normal course

  1. Birth: Maximal varus
  2. Age 2 years: Neutral position
  3. Ages 3-4 years: Maximal valgus (>10 degrees)
  4. Age >10 years: Anatomic valgus at 6 degrees
  5. Valgus deformity persists more in girls than boys

III. Signs

  1. Knock-Kneed appearance
  2. Evaluate standing knee alignment
    1. Intercondylar distance
    2. Intermalleolar distance
    3. Tibiofemoral angle

IV. Precautions

  1. Onset as teen is unusual and warrants referral
  2. Atypical acquired cases may result from Trauma, prior Osteomyelitis or Fracture

V. Differential Diagnosis (Pathologic Genu Valgum)

  1. Rickets
  2. Diastrophic dysplasia
  3. Morquio's Syndrome
  4. Ellis-van Creveld or Chondroectodermal Dysplasia
  5. Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia
  6. Pseudoachondroplasia

VI. Complications

  1. Premature Osteoarthritis

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Related Studies

Ontology: Knee joint valgus deformity (C0576093)

Definition (MSH) An inward slant of the thigh in which the knees are close together and the ankles far apart. Genu valgum can develop due to skeletal and joint dysplasias (e.g., OSTEOARTHRITIS; HURLER SYNDROME); and malnutrition (e.g., RICKETS; FLUORIDE POISONING).
Definition (MSHCZE) Lat. abnormální zakřivení dolních končetin, při němž jsou kolena vbočena do „X“ (lat. valgus křivonohý). (cit. Velký lékařský slovník online, 2013 http://lekarske.slovniky.cz/ )
Concepts Anatomical Abnormality (T190)
MSH D056304
ICD10 M21.06
SnomedCT 203565000, 310061000009104, 299330008
English Knock kneed, Knock knees, genu valgum (physical finding), genu valgum, Knock Knee, Knock Knees, Genu Valgum, Genu Valgums, Knock knee, Genu Valgum [Disease/Finding], knock-kneed, knock-knees, knees knocked, genus valgus, knock kneed, knee knocked, knock knees, knock-knee, knees knock, genu valgus, Genu Valgas, Valgas, Genu, Valga, Genu, Genu Valga, Knees, Knock, Genua valga, Genua valgum, Genu valga, Genu valgum, Knock-knee, Genu valgum (finding), Genu valgus, Knee joint valgus deformity (finding), Knock-kneed, Knock-knees, genu; valgum, knock knee, valgum; genu, Knee joint valgus deformity
Dutch genu valgum, x-benen, genu; valgum, valgum; genu
German X-Bein, Genu valgum, X-Beine, Genu Valgum
Portuguese Joelho valgo, Geno Valgo, Joelho Valgo, Perna em Tesoura, Joelhos para Dentro, Genu Valgum, Perna em X
Spanish Patizambo, Genu valgus, Genu Valgum, Rodillas Pegadas, Geno Valgo, articulación de la rodilla - deformidad en valgo (hallazgo), articulación de la rodilla - deformidad en valgo
Japanese X脚, ガイハンシツ, Xキャク, X脚, 外反膝
Czech Genu valgum, genua valga, nohy do X
French Genu valgum, Genoux cagneux, Genou valgum, Genoux valgums, Genou cagneux
Italian Ginocchio valgo, Genu valgum
Russian X-ОБРАЗНОЕ ИСКРЕВЛЕНИЕ НОГ, VAL'GUSNAIA DEFORMATSIIA KOLENNYKH SUSTAVOV, ВАЛЬГУСНАЯ ДЕФОРМАЦИЯ КОЛЕННЫХ СУСТАВОВ, X-ОБРАЗНЫЕ НОГИ, X-OBRAZNOE ISKREVLENIE NOG, X-OBRAZNYE NOGI
Swedish Kobenhet
Polish Kolano iksowate, Nogi iksowate, Kolano koślawe
Hungarian Genu, valgum, Genu valgum
Norwegian Genu valgum, Kalvbeint, Kalvbent