Leg bowing in pediatric population: A pictorial review

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Congress:

ECR 2014

Poster Number:

C-2338

Type:

Educational Exhibit

Keywords:

Genetic defects, Dysplasias, Congenital, Intrauterine diagnosis, Imaging sequences, Education, Ultrasound, Conventional radiography, Paediatric, Musculoskeletal bone, Bones

Authors:

M. Sah¹, S. Babu¹, S. A. R. Mustafa¹, G. Herdman², S. J. Morris¹; ¹Cardiff/UK, ²Bridgend/UK

DOI:

10.1594/ecr2014/C-2338

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/ecr2014/C-2338

Fig. 1: Physiological leg bowing: AP image of knees of a young patient showing slight...

$Fig. 20: Neurofibromatosis type 1: The AP radiograph shows anterolateral bowing of the tibia with thinning of the fibula. Pseudoarthrosis, fracture and cortical thickening at the level of lower one third of the tibia are noted in both AP and lateral images.$

Fig. 20: Neurofibromatosis type 1: The AP radiograph shows anterolateral bowing of the...

$Fig. 21: Haemangioma of bone: High signal intensity lesion is noted on T2 fat saturation image. Pathological fracture is also noted through this mid diaphyseal lesion with bowing of the tibia.$

Fig. 21: Haemangioma of bone: High signal intensity lesion is noted on T2 fat saturation...

Fig. 22: Thanatophoric Dysplasia: Foetal anomalies scan showing severe shortening and...

Fig. 6: Scurvy: AP radiograph of knee of a 24 months old child showing epiphyseal...

Learning objectives

1. To illustrate the various causes of leg bowing in children. 2. Characteristic imaging appearances in a variety of causes of leg bowing in paediatric population. 3. Differentiating imaging features for lower extremity bowing.

Background

This article provides an overview of different causes of lower extremity bowing in children and examples from our clinicoradiological practice. The commonest cause of leg bowing in children is physiological. The pathological causes includetraumatic, infection (osteomyelitis, syphilis), metabolic diseases (rickets, scurvy), connective tissue disorders (osteogenesis imperfecta), genetic disorders (neurofibromatosis type 1, achondroplasia), Blount's disease and various developmental and congenital causes. We also describe the characteristic radiological findings of foetal limb bowing (campomelic dysplasia, thanatophoric dysplasia). We discuss briefly the merits of various imaging modalities and...

Findings and procedure details

The aetiology of lower extremity bowing in infants and children: Varieties of conditions results in leg bowing in the paediatric population and vary according to the patient's age. Trauma, neoplastic and infective (Osteomyelitis and Syphilis) causes need to be considered in all age groups. Furthermore, radiologists should always be alert of the possibility of non-accidental trauma (NAI) as a differential diagnosis. Physiological leg bowing: Genu varum (angle out): The most common cause for lower extremity bowing is physiological. The cause of this is due to...

Conclusion

Recognition of important pathologic conditions is important for differentiating those that will resolve spontaneously from those entities requiring surgical input or other treatment.

Personal information

M.Sah, B.Sc.(Hons.), M.B.B.S (Hons.), DRCOG Department of Radiology, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. [email protected] S.Babu, M.B.B.S, DCH, FRCR Department of Radiology,Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. [email protected] S.A.R. Mustafa, MBBS, MRCS Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. [email protected] Dr. G. Herdman, M.B.B.S, FRCR Consultant MSK radiologist. Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, Wales, United Kingdom. Dr. S.J. Morris, MBBS, DCH, MRCP, FRCR Consultant radiologist....

References

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