Elsevier

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 121, Issue 3, September 1992, Pages 482-486
The Journal of Pediatrics

Tibia vara: A complication of adolescent obesity

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(05)81811-6Get rights and content

Tibia vara is characterized by inhibited growth of the medial portion of the proximal tibial growth plate, leading to progressive bowleg deformity. Twenty-nine adolescent patients with this condition were reviewed: all were black, 27 (93%) were male, and 19 (66%) had only one side affected. Progressive deformity rather than knee discomfort was the most common presenting complaint. The deformity reportedly developed rapidly during the adolescent growth spurt. The body weights of these patients exceeded the 95th percentile for age and gender by an average of 43 kg. The absence of significant symptoms and a body habitus that obscured the deformity often resulted in delayed diagnosis. Physicians involved in the care of obese black male adolescents should carefully examine them for tibia vara, which has a reported prevalence of 2% to 3% in this population. Treatment options are severely restricted if the condition is not diagnosed early.

References (23)

  • BeskinJL et al.

    Clinical basis for a mechanical etiology in adolescent Blount's disease

    Orthopedics

    (1986)
  • BlountWP

    Tibia vara: osteochondrosis deformans tibiae

    J Bone Joint Surg [Am]

    (1937)
  • CarterJR et al.

    Late-onset tibia vara: a histopathologic analysis—a comparative evaluation with infantile tibia vara and slipped capital femoral epiphysis

    J Pediatr Orthop

    (1988)
  • CurrarinoG et al.

    Lateral widening of epiphyseal plates in knees of children with bowed legs

    AJR Am J Roentgenol

    (1977)
  • LangenskioldA et al.

    Tibia vara (osteochondrosis deformans tibiae): a survey of seventy-one cases

    J Bone Joint Surg [Am]

    (1964)
  • LovejoyJF et al.

    Adolescent tibia vara associated with slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a report of two cases

    J Bone Joint Surg [Am]

    (1970)
  • SasakiT et al.

    Transepiphyseal plate osteotomy for severe tibia vara in children: follow-up study of four cases

    J Pediatr Orthop

    (1986)
  • ThompsonGH et al.

    Late-onset tibia vara: a comparative analysis

    J Pediatr Orthop

    (1984)
  • WengerDR et al.

    The evolution and histopathology of adolescent tibia vara

    J Pediatr Orthop

    (1984)
  • Henderson RC, Kemp GJ, Hayes PRL. The prevalence of late-onset tibia vara. J Pediatr Orthop (in...
  • HsuRWW et al.

    Normal axial alignment of the lower extremity and load-bearing distribution at the knee

    Clin Orthop

    (1990)
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text