Limb disorders in children

What are limb disorders in children?

Limb disorders are a group of conditions that cause your child’s arms and legs to develop abnormally.

What are the different types of limb disorders in children?

• Limb deformity - Some children have limbs that form abnormally as they grow. Common conditions include knock-knees and bowed legs.

• Limb-length discrepancy - Most often, children with significant limb-length discrepancy (difference in length of the arms or legs) have a history of bone injury, infection or disease. Sometimes, neurological conditions or arthritis are the cause.

What are the signs and symptoms of limb disorders in children?

• Difficulty using limbs properly in actions like throwing, walking and running

• Noticeable deformity or significant difference in the length of one limb versus the other

• Pain in affected limb or nearby joint

How are limb disorders in children diagnosed?

Limb disorders are diagnosed with a physical examination and a review of your child’s medical history. We will also order an imaging scan to help with the diagnosis.

• X-ray - Uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to take detailed images of the bones in both limbs (affected and non-affected) to make a comparison

• CT (computed tomography) scan - Uses X-rays to make detailed images of the affected and non-affected limb for comparison

• Physical exam - Looks at your child’s limbs and measures limb-lengths to test for discrepancy

What are the causes of limb disorders in children?

• Growth plate injuries

• Bone and joint infections, such as osteomyelitis

• Bone injuries such as fractures — especially near the growth plate

• Hip joint conditions, such as developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and hip dysplasia

How are limb disorders in children treated?

A child diagnosed with a limb disorder can still live a normal life with the help of our multidisciplinary team. We bring together specialists with considerable expertise to treat the full range of potential conditions.

Nonsurgical treatments

• Orthotics - Shoe lifts for children with minor leg length discrepancy

• Bracing - Leg braces to correct knock-knees or bow legs

Surgical treatments

• Guided growth procedure - Used to correct knock-knees and bowed legs in children, this minimally invasive surgery attaches screws and a small, figure eight-shaped plate to the bone. When attached, these tools minimize pressure on the growth plate, allowing the bone to correct gently over time.

• Limb-lengthening procedures - With this advanced procedure, physicians slowly pull the shorter limb’s bones apart using pins, to lengthen the limb and encourage natural regeneration. The limb is supported by a brace during the lengthening.

• Limb-shortening procedures - These effective techniques shorten the longer limb by slowing its growth rate or removing a section of bone (bone resection is only done in teens who have stopped growing).

After treatment, our physicians work collaboratively with in-house physical therapists to create an individualized rehabilitation plan for your child’s unique needs.