A case of excessive femoral anteversion which caused instability of the medial collateral ligament of the knee joint

Abstract

IntroductionThe most cases of excessive femoral anteversion may be asymptomatic, because the he hip joint is a ball joint. However, when the hip, knee, or ankle joint is in a pathological state, excessive femoral anteversion may not be compensated for and induce symptoms.Case reportA 16-year-old female with achondroplasia. Medullary compression by the odontoid process caused right hemiplegia at 10 months after birth and equinus foot concomitantly developed. At 14 years old, right knee pain developed during walking. For treatment, firstly, tenodesis of medial collateral ligament of the knee joint (MCL) was performed. Oblique osteotomy was applied to the proximal MCL attachment site over the distal tibial tuberosity, followed by simple limb lengthening, which improved knee instability. To prevent recurrence of knee instability, varus and derotationosteotomy of the femur and Vulpius procedure (triceps surae muscle lengthening) were additionally performed, and gait stabilized after surgery.DiscussionRegarding the pathogenesis, her gait was originally in-toeing because of excessive femoral anteversion, but the lower leg did not internally rotate during walking because of equinus foot, and the foot grounded in an externally rotated position, loading burdens on the MCL. This condition may have gradually caused instability of the knee over the years.ConclusionWe surgically treated the patient with knee joint valgus instability caused by excessive femoral anteversion and equinus foot and achieved a favorable outcome.