Limb Deformity

Bowed Legs in Children

Bowed legs in toddlers are quite common and are part of normal development. Since all children are different, some legs appear only mildly curved while others will have a more significant amount of bowing. As children grow, their legs become straighter to knock knee slightly. By the age of two, most children’s legs are nearly straight, and by age three, almost all children have outgrown the bowing of their legs.

It is important to remember that all children are unique and grow at different rates so that some children won’t fit into the pattern described above. Some problems result in children’s legs being bowed; these include growth plate problems such as Blount’s disease, growth arrest, and metabolic issues such as rickets.

Most cases of bowing do not require treatment. Your physician will base his recommendations are a careful evaluation of your child, which may include x-rays. Treatment may consist of observation, bracing, or possibly surgery. Surgery for this problem may consist of growth modulation or osteotomies (cutting the bone) to correct the deformity.