Infantile Tibia Vara: Correction of Recurrent Varus Deformity Following Epiphyseolysis

Abstract

Infantile tibia vara (infantile Blount's disease) is a condition in which progressive varus of the knee develops due to diminished physeal growth of the medial aspect of the proximal tibia. A 6-year-old boy with severe bilateral infantile tibia vara (Langenskiold stage V) underwent operative correction of his deformities. Surgery consisted of epiphyseolyses of the medial proximal tibiae and valgus-producing corrective tibial osteotomies. Nearly 5 years after symmetric growth, he again developed progressive varus involving his left knee. Usually, a repeat proximal tibial osteotomy is required along with consideration for completion of epiphyseodesis. In this case report, a simpler approach using staples was taken to successfully regain correction in a patient with recurrent deformity who was treated previously by a combination of epiphyseolysis and proximal tibial osteotomy. Stapling of the lateral aspect of the physis allowed the limited remaining growth potential within the abnormal medial physeal region to correct the angular deformity. A small overcorrection into valgus corrected after subsequent removal of the staple. At 14 years, with clinical and radiologic alignment normal, bilateral proximal tibial epiphysiodeses were performed. The patient returned to playing football at a high school level and had no functional limitations. To our knowledge, this is the first report of growth modulation (physeal stapling) resulting in successful correction of recurring genu varum in a knee that had previously undergone epiphyseolysis of the medial proximal tibial physis in advanced infantile tibia vara.