Background: Genu varum deformities of the leg are often associated with internal tibial torsion and can occur unilaterally, bilaterally or as part of a windswept deformity. Amongst the causes for a genu varum deformity are physiological bowlegs, Blount disease, rickets, infections, traumatic growth plate injuries, skeletal dysplasias and neoplasms. Common causes for a genu varum deformity in Africa are Blount disease and rickets. However, little is known about the exact incidence of these diseases. One report estimates the prevalence of infantile Blount disease in the Caribbean at 1/1200 live births, with bilateral involvement in 37–62%. Rickets remains a significant health problem in developing countries, with the prevalence in different African countries ranging from 3% to 42%. A population study in The Gambia found the clinical criteria of rickets in 3.3% of children under the age of 18, while only 0.6% showed radiographic signs of rickets. In this study, bilateral bow leg deformity was the most common deformity (53%), followed by knock knee deformity (47%). Objective: This review article aims to to evaluate and compare the functional, clinical and radiological outcome of dome osteotomy and fixation by T or L plate used in genu varum. |
