Effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) On Degree of Angular Knee Deformity in Children with Blount\'s Disease.

Abstract

The aetiology of Blount\'s disease remains unknown, but it is generally agreed that weight bearing plays a role in the pathogenesis of knee deformity in these patients. Our aim was to analyze the effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) on the degree of angular knee deformity in children with clinical and radiological features of Blount\'s disease. This was a prospective analysis which involved 20 patients (38 knees) with clinical and radiological evidence of Blount\'s disease. Forty controls (80 knees) without clinical evidence of knee pathology were recruited for comparison. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was determined for each patient using the Johan Van Hespen BMI calculator. The degree of angular deformity in patients with Blount\'s disease was determined by measuring the intercondylar distance (ICD). Results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis with significance level set at P Keywords : Blount\'s Disease, Body Mass Index, Angular knee deformity Nigeria Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 76-78