Learn About Blount Disease
Blount disease is a growth disorder of the shin bone (tibia) in which the lower leg turns inward, making it look like a bowleg.
Blount's disease; Tibia vara
Blount disease occurs in young children and adolescents. The cause is unknown. It is thought to be due to the effects of weight on the growth plate. The inner part of the shin bone, just below the knee, fails to develop normally.
Unlike bowlegs, which tend to straighten as the child develops, Blount disease slowly gets worse. It can cause severe bowing of one or both legs.
This condition is more common among African American children. It is also associated with obesity and early walking.
One or both of the lower legs turn inward. This is called "bowing." It may:
- Look the same on both legs
- Occur just below the knee
- Rapidly get worse
Braces are used to treat children who develop severe bowing before the age of 3.
Surgery is most often needed if braces do not work, or if the problem is not diagnosed until the child is older. Surgery may involve cutting the shin bone to place it in the proper position. Sometimes, the bone will be lengthened as well.
Other times, surgery is done to restrict the growth of the outer half of the shin bone. This allows the child's natural growth to reverse the bowing process. This is a much smaller surgery. It works best in children with less severe symptoms who still have quite a bit of growing to do.
Sanjeev Sabharwal is an Orthopedics provider in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Sabharwal is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Blount Disease. His top areas of expertise are Blount Disease, Osgood-Schlatter Disease, Acromicric Dysplasia, Osteotomy, and Spinal Fusion.
Montefiore Greene Medical Arts Pavilion
Melinda S. Sharkey, MD, is an Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at Montefiore. She specializes in the operative and nonoperative treatment of general pediatric and adolescent musculoskeletal problems, including traumatic injuries, as well as congenital and developmental disorders. Her practice particularly focuses on the surgical treatment of bone deformities, foot deformities, limb length discrepancies, and metabolic bone diseases. Dr. Sharkey received her Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry in 1999 at Wellesley College. In 2004, she received her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Sharkey completed an internship in General Surgery and a residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of California San Francisco from 2004 to 2009. She then completed a fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Sharkey is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Blount Disease. Her top areas of expertise are Blount Disease, Clubfoot, Osgood-Schlatter Disease, Osteotomy, and Tenotomy.
Montefiore Greene Medical Arts Pavilion
Jacob F. Schulz, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who provides comprehensive pediatric orthopedic care with an emphasis on spinal deformity, neuromuscular disease and trauma. He has a particular interest in the growing spine, with experience using the vertical expandable titanium rib (VEPTR) device and vertebral tethering through a thoracoscopic approach. At our Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Schulz is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Blount Disease. His top areas of expertise are Blount Disease, Scoliosis, Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Spinal Fusion, and Tenotomy.
If the leg can be placed into the proper position, the outlook is good. The leg should work properly and look normal.
Failure to treat Blount disease may lead to progressive deformity. The condition may lead to differences in leg lengths, which can result in disability if not treated.
Blount disease may come back after surgery, especially in younger children.
Contact your child's provider if your child's leg or legs appear to be bowing. Also contact the provider if your child has bowed legs that appear to be getting worse.
Weight loss may be helpful for overweight children.
Published Date: October 20, 2024
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Sheffer BW. Osteochondrosis or epiphysitis and other miscellaneous affections. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 32.
Williams BA, Winell JJ, Wells L. Torsional and angular deformities of the limb. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 716.