Long-term results after infantile Blount's disease

J Pediatr Orthop B. 1998 Jul;7(3):226-9. doi: 10.1097/01202412-199807000-00009.

Abstract

A long-term follow-up of 49 patients with an average age of 38 years (range: 25-67 years) who had experienced infantile Blount's disease was done. Thirty-seven patients had bilateral disease, giving a total of 86 affected knees. Thirty-eight knees had conservative or no treatment during childhood; 13 were treated by epiphysiodesis, and 35 by osteotomy. At follow-up, 11 knees showed arthrosis, and 9 were graded as mild. Ten knees had been surgically treated by medial meniscectomy at an average age of 29 years (range: 19-45 years), after the diagnosis of Blount's disease. Four of the knees showed arthrosis. Most of the patients had a straight leg and mild or no pain from their knee. It is concluded that most children with infantile Blount's disease will, at the age of 40 years, have a straight leg without arthrosis and that one third can reach this result without any treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bone Diseases, Developmental / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Diseases, Developmental / surgery*
  • Bone Diseases, Developmental / therapy
  • Braces
  • Epiphyses / abnormalities
  • Epiphyses / surgery
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Knee Joint / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Orthopedics / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Radiography
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Registries
  • Sweden
  • Tibia / abnormalities*
  • Tibia / diagnostic imaging
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome