Are your baby's legs bowed? (Bow Legs) Don't worry, let's talk about this!

Have you ever noticed that when your little one starts to stand or walk, their legs are slightly bent at the knees, like a bow? It's normal for a mother or father to feel a little scared when they see this. Sometimes, when relatives and friends come home and say, "Oh, my baby's legs are so long," it makes you even more scared. But is this really something to be afraid of? Let's talk about this today.

Simply put, what are bow legs?

Bowed legs, or as we call it in medical terms (Genu Varum) , is a condition in which one or both of a child's legs are bent outwards at the knee. This causes a larger gap between the knees than normal when the child stands upright with their ankles together. If you look closely, the legs take on the shape of a bow. We can see this shape clearly, especially when the child walks.

Imagine that you are putting your baby's ankles together. Then the knees should be close together. But a child with this ``Bow Legs'' condition has their knees spread apart.

Why do little babies' legs get pulled like this?

There could be several reasons for this, but let's talk about the most common and completely normal reason first.

It's part of the normal growth process! (Physiologic Genu Varum)

This is the main reason for the appearance of bowed legs in babies and there is no reason to be alarmed. Simply put, this is a normal stage of a child's development.

Imagine how small a space a baby is inside its mother's womb for nine months. Like a bud about to bloom. While inside this small space, some of the baby's bones have to twist and rotate a little to fit in. This is especially true for the bones in the legs.

So after the baby is born, as it grows, stands, and walks, those curled legs slowly start to straighten out. Just like the petals of a flower slowly open and bloom. This process takes some time. Usually, by the age of 18 months to 2 years, about 95% of children's legs are completely straight.

So, if your baby is under 2 years old and both of his legs are bent at the same time, it is most likely due to this normal developmental process. We call this (Physiologic Genu Varum) .

So, when should we be afraid?

If your child's leg cramps don't go away by the age of 2, or if they seem to be getting worse, there may be another medical reason for them. In that case, it's important to see a doctor for advice.

Leg cramps can also occur for other reasons like these.

What are the symptoms of this condition?

The main symptom, as we discussed earlier, is the appearance of the child's legs. The most obvious sign is that the knees are not together when the child is standing upright, but are far apart. This is even more noticeable when the child is walking.

Sometimes these children may walk with their toes turned inward. We also call this (Pigeon Toes / Intoeing) .

But the most important thing here is that usually this `(Bow Legs)` condition does not cause any pain to the child. And this condition does not affect the child's ability to crawl, walk, or run in any way.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

When you take your baby to a doctor, the first thing he or she will do is give your baby a thorough physical examination and ask you about your baby's health history.

• If the child is under 2 years old: The doctor will usually not do any other tests. Instead, he will advise observing whether the leg swelling goes away on its own as the child gets older. This is the usual procedure.
• For children over 2 years old: The doctor may measure the child's legs and observe the way the child walks. In addition, an X-ray may be done to check the condition of the bones in the legs and knees. A blood test may also be done to check for conditions such as rickets.

Sometimes, your doctor may refer you to an orthopedic specialist.

Can bed sores be cured? What are the treatments?

Yes, it definitely can. Treatment options depend on the cause of the condition and the age of the child.

For babies under 2 years old

As I mentioned earlier, bow legs in babies and young children under the age of 2 often resolves on its own. Therefore, unless the condition is very serious, no treatment is needed. The doctor will continue to monitor the child's development.

For children over 2 years old

If this condition persists after the age of 2, treatment will depend on the cause.

• For Blount's Disease: If the disease is detected early, it can be treated with specially designed shoes, splints, or braces.
• For Rickets: This is treated by adding vitamin D and calcium to the child's diet. Sometimes, if the condition is caused by a genetic cause, treatment by a specialist may be necessary.

Surgery

If other treatments fail to control the condition and stop further bone damage, surgery may be necessary. Don't be afraid to hear this word. These are surgeries that are now being performed successfully.

1. Guided Growth: In this procedure, the surgeon temporarily places a small metal plate or staple on the healthy side of the child's leg bone to stop growth. This allows the other, unhealthy side of the bone to grow to match the healthy side. The leg will straighten as the child grows naturally. Once the leg has straightened, the plate is removed.

2. Tibial Osteotomy: In this procedure, the surgeon cuts the bone below the knee, reshapes it, and realigns the leg so that it is straight. The bone is immobilized with a plate and screws on the inside of the leg or an external frame on the outside of the leg until it heals.

Some other questions for mothers

How long does it take for a baby's legs to straighten?

As soon as a baby starts walking, their legs usually start to straighten. This happens between 11 and 18 months of age . In most cases, this does not cause any long-term side effects.

When should I really be afraid?

If your child's leg swelling does not go away by the time they are 2 or 3 years old , if the swelling is getting worse , if only one leg is swollen , if the child is in pain , or if the child's height is short for his or her age , be sure to see a doctor.

Is there a way to prevent my baby from getting 'bow legs'?

There is no way to prevent the normal growth process (Physiologic Genu Varum) that we talked about earlier. Because it is a natural thing. However, you can prevent conditions like rickets. The best thing to do for that is to make sure that the child gets enough vitamin D and calcium. In our country, exposing the baby to the morning sun is the best way to get vitamin D. Also, it is important to provide nutrition according to the doctor's instructions.

Bow Legs Sinhala, Genu Varum, Bow Legs in Baby, Baby's Legs, Rickettsia, Blount's Disease, Pediatrics, Bone Diseases, Child Development