Do your ankles come together when you try to bring in your knee while standing? They must and they do in most cases – when the inner knees connect, the ankles are bound to close in too. However, in some cases, the knees tend to cave inwards, and they meet earlier than the ankles, preventing the ankles from touching each other. This condition is called ‘Knock Knees,’ which is more common among children.
Over time, this condition sorts out by itself. But when it doesn’t, it grows with the child to cause gait abnormalities, joint pains, postural issues, arthritis risk, instability, and persistent joint pains.
What causes knock knee, and how does it interfere with a child’s development? How is this condition diagnosed and treated by knee specialists? We posed these questions to the leading knee surgeon in Mumbai, Dr Niraj Vora, and have brought you his answers to provide you with a better understanding.
What causes Knock Knee?
A genetic condition, injury to the shin bone, rickets, benign bone tumours, bone infection, metabolic diseases, & obesity are some of the most common Knock knee causes.
“Knock knee is prevalent in children, but it usually sorts itself out in most cases. However, when it does not, it can impact children’s growth in multiple ways,” says knee specialist and knee replacement surgeon in Mumbai Dr Niraj Vora.
How does Knock Knee impact the children?
Knock knees can manifest in infants, toddlers, and young children. Among infants, it may present as bowlegs where the legs curve outward until they are two years of age. Knock knees may develop in toddlers between 2 to 3 years of age, and in these cases, the knees tilt increasingly inward and grow similarly until age 4 or 5.
In most cases, the knock knees sort themselves out by age 7, but in rare cases, they continue to grow into adolescence.
What are the symptoms of Knock Knees?
As Knock knees develop, the symptoms become apparent due to abnormal loading on the knee. Knock knees include changes in gait, foot or ankle pain, knee instability, difficulty walking or running, reduced range of motion in hips, and the most prominent symptom is the lack of connection between feet when the knees are together.
“Especially asymmetric leg appearance, short stature for age, reported knee or hip pain, limp while walking are the common signs parents must notice in children,” says Knock knee specialist and total knee replacement surgeon in Mumbai, Dr Niraj Vora.
How is Knock Knee Diagnosed?
A knee specialist in Mumbai evaluates the position of the child’s legs, ankles, and knees to check for the incidence of knock knees. The distance between the ankles is one factor used to identify the severity of knock knees. In addition, BMI, height, leg length symmetry, walking pattern, and X-ray studies are used to diagnose the presence and severity of knock knees in children.
Knock Knee Treatment in Mumbai:
As stated above, knock knees sort themselves out in most cases. When they don’t, doctors evaluate the severity and devise the right plan to restore the average balance and function of the knees. This treatment for knock knees can be surgical or non-surgical based on the severity and growth stage of the patient. Non-surgical options involve identifying the underlying cause of the knock knees and resolving the issues with medication and integrated treatment options.
As for surgical options, Guided Growth Surgery is the most often recommended procedure by knee specialists in Mumbai, followed by Osteotomy.
- Guided Growth Surgery involves inserting a metal implant to stop the abnormal growth of the bone and guide the knee to retain its natural position.
- Osteotomy is another surgical procedure performed in severe knock-knock cases, mainly when the patient completes his growth phases. The procedure aims to straighten the legs by manoeuvring the angle of the bones. The surgeon realigns the bone below or above the knee to achieve this.
With the right physical therapy post-operation, the patient can bid farewell to knock knees and return to regular activities within six months of the surgical procedure. As the leading knee replacement specialist in Mumbai, Dr Niraj Vora is the top knee surgeon who has helped hundreds of knock knee cases with surgical and non-surgical procedures. For inquiries on knock knees or any other cases of knee pain treatment in Mumbai you can contact him here: +91-22-6686 8600