External curvature of the legs is a problem in which the knees appear far from each other, while the feet
are close. The disease is diagnosed through clinical examination and monitoring the patient walking
pattern.

Causes of external curvature of the legs
The patient suffers from bowlegs due to the following reasons:
Blount& disease, a growth disorder of the tibia.
Osteomalacia in childhood and neglect of its treatment.
A fracture in the growth center occurred at a young age, leading to deformation of leg growth.
An old fracture that was healed in the wrong position.
Dwarfism.
Osteoarthritis.
Obesity.
Osteoporosis.
Growth of a tumor in the bone near the knee.

Complications of bowlegs
External bowed legs cause several complications if left neglected, including:

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint at an early age.
Limbing while walking.
Recurrent knee joint inflammation and swelling.

Treatment of external bowlegs
Surgical intervention is the most appropriate treatment for cases of external bowlegs, and surgical
treatment aims to restore the straightness of the leg. The types of external bowlegs are divided into two
types:

The arch is straightened using a plate & screms

During the procedure, the doctor makes an osteotomy at proximal part of the tibia, and then fixes the
osteotomy with plates and screws in the correct position.

Restoration of the varus using an external fixator
This procedure involves making a osteotomy in the tibia, then fixing the tibia in the arched position with
an external fixator. After a while, the doctor begins to gradually correct the curvature. The doctor twists
the nuts of the device several times daily over the course of a few weeks until the leg straightens.

It should be noted that there are non-surgical treatment methods for external bowlegs that aim to
reduce the symptoms resulting from the curvature only and not to correct it, such as drug therapy and
physical therapy.

If you face any bone-related problems, we invite you to visit the clinics of Dr. Ibrahim Gado – consultant
orthopedic surgeon – in order to obtain medical advice and develop a treatment plan to help you get rid
of the problem permanently.

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