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Gradual Correction for Blount's Disease Advised
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Posted on: 11/30/1999
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This study shows that slow, gradual correction of Blount's disease is a more accurate way to treat this condition compared to acute correction after surgery.
Blount's disease is also known as tibia varum or bowlegs. Bowlegs is a common condition in toddlers and young children. In some cases, abnormal growth of the bone causes the bowing to get worse instead of better over time. Then the condition is called Blount’s disease.
Two groups of children having correction of their tibia vara were compared. All patients had surgery to correct the deformity. After the operation, the correction was held in place using two different types of fixation.
In group one, the legs were held in an external fixator device (external EBI fixator) to correct the deformity. This device is attached to the bone with pins and clamps. It has a series of joints connected together that can be adjusted. This type of treatment may require a second operation to adjust the angle, rotation, and length of the bone.
The second group wore a circular device around the leg called a Taylor spatial frame. A series of six struts as part of this system are designed to improve bone alignment gradually.
The group with the Taylor frame had the best results. Angular correction of the bone was much more accurate than in the EBI fixator group. The authors conclude that gradual deformity correction is also safer with fewer complications without pins that can damage nerves or blood vessels. Any adjustments can be made without returning to the operating room.
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References:
David S. Feldman, MD, et al. Accuracy of Correction of Tibia Vara. Acute Versus Gradual Correction. In Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. November/December 2006. Vol. 26. No. 6. Pp. 794-798.
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