Bowlegs In-Depth Analysis 1

Bowlegs and Rotational Deformity

I would like to inform you all about the rotational deformity since many of you have questions and some don’t even know that they have a (bowleg) leg deformity. It is easy to think that leg deformity (bowleg) is simply the angles of bones are curved, but it’s not always the case.

Surely, most of the times it is caused by the angular deformity of bone. Some doctors even claim that leg deformity is due to the rotational deformity of hip joint only but that is just a part of many other causes of leg deformity.

It’s already getting complicated isn’t it?

I will explain it easily.

Leg Deformity (Bowleg) - Here, we will define it as legs that seem bent like an O-shape. There are mainly three reasons for legs to look bent as an O-shape.

1) Angular Deformity - In another words, bones are bent. Most of bowleg cases are due to the angular deformity.

Look at the picture next to it, you can see that the calf (tibia) bone right below the knees are bent. 

Mostly, the leg deformity is caused by the bent of this area but sometimes the thigh (femur) bone can be also bent that it is important to accurately analyze where the deformation has occurred and plan for the surgery according to the analysis.

Basically, receiving the correction surgery without an accurate analysis of deformity location may give a negative impact on the knee joint.

2) Rotational Deformity - Rotational deformity is also an important cause of legs to look bent. 

Rotational deformity occurs either on the thigh (femur) bone or on the calf (tibia) bone, which can be determined through an accurate consultation and examination.

The rotational deformity is crucial because in the case of not knowing leg deformity accompanied with the rotational deformity, it can result in the correction of angular deformity only and make the legs in a weird shape.  

When looking at the photos of leg deformity correction over the internet, there are cases where the knees seem to be touching each other yet the legs are looking weird after the correction surgery. These cases are the ones that end up receiving the correction surgery without understanding the rotational deformity.

The photos shown below seem to have legs that are bent pretty badly. But these patients have the rotational deformity as well. So many people like these patients can obtain good results through the accurate examination and the open wedge high tibial osteotomy.

For people who have bowlegs, it is essential to analyze in which degree each of angular deformity and rotational deformity has contributed in their leg deformity (bowleg). Along with this accurate analysis, accurately correcting the deformities will give the best and ideal results after the correction surgery.

Post-op of Bowleg Correction Surgery