Lower Extremity Deformity

What is a lower extremity deformity?

A lower extremity deformity is an abnormality of the lower extremities — the hips, legs, ankles, feet, and toes. For example, your child might have one leg shorter than the other, clubfoot, Blount’s disease, hip dysplasia, or broken, bowed, or missing bones. Their feet might point inward or outward when they walk.

Treating your child’s lower extremity deformity can improve the way they move (their gait) and their musculoskeletal structure.

What are the signs of a lower extremity deformity?

The common signs of a lower extremity deformity include pain, visible abnormalities, and problems walking, jumping, running, or playing sports. They might walk with a limp or feel pain with movement. Sometimes there aren’t any apparent signs of a lower extremity deformity – at least not right away.

What causes a lower extremity deformity?

Some of the causes of lower extremity deformities include:

• Genetic defects
• Family history of lower extremity deformities
• Trauma
• Car accidents
• Sports injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Other forms of trauma
• Infections
• Neurologic problems

Finding the root cause of a lower extremity deformity and correcting the problem can dramatically restore your child’s quality of life.

How are my child’s lower extremity deformities diagnosed?

The doctors discuss their medical history and symptoms to determine if your child suffers from a lower extremity deformity and which kind they have. They check their vital signs and complete a comprehensive physical exam to look for signs of abnormalities in their hips, legs, feet, ankles, and toes.

They might need blood tests and X-rays, an MRI, or another imaging procedure to determine how severe a deformity is and how to best treat it.

How is a lower extremity deformity treated?

We offer various options to treat your child’s lower extremity deformity. They might need wire external fixation devices, bracing, casting, physical therapy, or orthopedic surgery. These treatments reconstruct deformities, lengthen bones, and even save limbs from amputation. 

The Doctors tailor each treatment to ensure outstanding results and monitor your child’s progress throughout treatment. You might need more than one kind of treatment to reap the most benefits.

Call the OrthoHouston office today or use the online scheduler to have your child treated for a lower extremity deformity.