BLOUNTS DISEASE
DR AKHIL JOSE
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• ERLACHER (1922) –first description of tibia
vara and internal rotation
• Walter BLOUNT(1937)-described tibia vara
Blount:
• An osteochondrosis similar to coxa plana and
madelung deformity but located at the medial
side of proximal tibial epiphysis
• Anders
Langenskloid(1952)
• - radiographic changes
and stages of disease in
scandinavian
population
synonyms
• Infantile tibia vara
• Erlachers disease
• Blount-barber disease
• Subepiphyseal osteochondropathy
• Non rachitic bow legs
• Osteitis deformans tibia
• Secondary effects
• -internal torsion of tibia
• -insufficient ossification of the medial portion
of medial tibial condyle
• Streched LCL
ANATOMY
• Genu varum is a normal physiologic process in
children
• genu varum (bowed legs) is normal in
children less than 2 years
• genu varum migrates to a neutral at ~ 14 months
• continues on to a peak genu valgum (knocked
knees) at ~ 3 years of age
• genu valgum then migrates back to normal
physiologic valgus(<15) at ~ 7 years of age
Types
• 2 types
• 1-Infantile-begins before 8 years of age
• 2-Adolescent- begins after 10 years of age but
before skeletal maturity
• A) b/w 10 and 13 years -partial closure of
epiphysis - trauma/infection
• B) b/w 10 and 13 years –black and obese
children-no distinct cause
INFANTILE BLOUNTS DISEASE
• progressive pathologic genu varum centered
at the tibia in children 2 to 5 years of age.
• Diagnosis- presence of a genu
varum/flexion/internal rotation deformity and
confirmed radiographically with an
increased metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle.
• Treatment - bracing to surgery (patient age,
severity of deformity, and presence of a
physeal bar.)
ETIOLOGY
Idiopathic
more common
male > female
bilateral in 50%
Altered enchondral
ossification
Risk factors
overweight children
early walkers (< 1 year)
Hispanic and African
American
Pathophysiology
• multifactorial -but related to mechanical
overload in genetically susceptible individuals
• excessive medial pressure produces an
osteochondrosis of the medial proximal tibial
physis and epiphysis
• (osteochondrosis can progress to a physeal
bar)
• Intra articular pathology
• Enlargement and hypermobility of medial
meniscus
• Depression of anterior aspect of medial
femoral condyle
• Depression of posteromedial plateau of tibia
type I to IV consist of increasing medial metaphyseal beaking and sloping
type V and VI have an epiphyseal-metaphyseal bony bridge (congenital bar
across physis)
At stage 6 – medial portion of epiphysis fuses at 90 degree downward angle
PRESENTATION
• Physical examination
• genu varum/flexion/internal rotation deformity
• usually b/l in infants
• lateral thrust on walking
• Waddling gait
• may exhibit positive 'cover-up test'
• often associated with internal tibial torsion
• leg length discrepancy
• usually NO tenderness, restriction of motion, effusion
• Bony hard non tender prominence –palpable at the
medial epiphysiometaaphyseal junction
• SIFFERT KATZ sign-as the extended knee is slightly
flexed---medial femoral condyle engages tibial medial
plateau depression and sublaxates posteromedially
(varus instability at 15 degree knee flexion)
• Long standing neglected cases’
• -slight flexion deformity added
• Unstable joint-lax ligaments
• Medial compartment OA knee
IMAGING
Radiographs
• standing long-cassette AP radiograph of both lower
extremities
• ensure that patella are facing forwards for evaluation
(commonly associated with internal tibial torsion)
– findings suggestive of Blounts disease
• medial and posterior sloping of proximal tibial
epiphysis(short ,thin,wedged,irregular)
• varus focused at proximal tibia
• severe deformity(asymmetric bowing)
• sharp angular deformity(progressive)
metaphyseal
breaking
different than physiologic
bowing which shows a
symmetric flaring of the tibia and
femur
Often palpable
Not diagnostic
Pathognomic-progressive disease
DRENNAN ANGLE
Other investigations
• Ct scan to r/o physeal
bar
• Double contrast
arthrography and
arthroscopy –intra
articular
pathology(articular
surface defects,medial
meniscus)
• Histological findings’
• -delayed ossification of
medial epiphysis and
proximal tibia
• -cell hypertrophy
• Dense cellularity
• Fibrocartilage islands
• Abnormally large group
of capilaries
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
• Persistent physiological varus
• Rickets
• osteogenesis imperfecta
• Multiple Episphyseal Dysplasia(fairbanks d/s)
• Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia
• metaphyseal dysostosis (Schmidt, Jansen)
• focal fibrocartilaginous defect
• thrombocytopenia absent radius
• proximal tibia physeal injury (radiation, infection,
trauma)
RICKETS
MULTIPLE
EPIPHYSEAL
DYSPLASIA
SPONDYLO-
-EPIPHYSEAL
DYSPLASIA
TREATMENT
• Nonoperative
• BRACE TREATMENT WITH KneeAnkleFootOrthosis
indications
• Stage I and II in children < 3 years
• technique
• bracing - approximately 2 years for resolution of bony
changes
outcomes
• improved outcomes if unilateral
• poor results -obesity and bilaterality
• if successful, improvement - within 1 year
KAFO
Prefered by Railey
Valgus force at 3
points
23 hrs/day
Full weight bearinng
ELASTIC BLOUNT
BRACE
1987
Wide elastic band
just distal to knee
joint
OPERATIVE
• PROXIMAL TIBIA/FIBULA VALGUS OSTEOTOMY
• overcome the varus/flexion/internal rotation deformity
indications
• Stage I and II in children > 3 years
• Stage III, IV, V, VI
• age ≥ 4y (all stages)
• failure of brace treatment
• progressive deformity
• metaphyseal-diaphyseal angles > 20 degrees
outcomes
• risk of recurrence is significantly lessened if performed
before 4 years of age
OSTEOTOMY
GOALS OF CORRECTION
• overcorrect into 10-15° of valgus because
medial physeal growth abnormalities persist
• distal segment is fixed in valgus, external
rotation and lateral translation
RAB
OSTEOTOMY(meta
physeal/oblique)
A-transverse incision
at tibial tubercle
B-y shaped periosteal
incision
C-insertion of
steinman pin
D-mark saw and
osteotomy(prevent
overpenetration)
E-oblique cut beneath
pin
F-rotation of
osteotomy and
fixation with lag screw
CHEVRON OSTEOTOMY
may
• PHYSEAL BAR RESECTION
• indication
• at least 4y of growth remaining
• technique
• perform together with osteotomy
• interpositional material is usually fat or PMMA
COMPLICATIONS
• 1.Compartment syndrome (with high
tibial/fibular osteotomy)-prophylactic release of
anterior compartment
• 2.CPN palsy
• 3.anterior tibia artery injury
4.Recurrence of tibial vara
• severe cases-- physeal bar-- progressive varus
after a well executed proximal tibial valgus
osteotomy--- require a lateral tibial
hemiepiphysiodesis or physeal bar resection
Physeal bar
• MC cause of recurrence
• Greene criteria(CT scan)
• 1.age>5
• 2.medial physeal slope 50-70 degree
• 3.langenskiold grade 4 or more’
• 4.body weight >95 th percentile
• 5.black girls who meet previous criteria
PROGNOSIS
• Best outcomes
• early diagnosis and unloading of the medial
joint with either bracing or an osteotomy
• Young children with stage II and stage IV can
have spontaneous correction
•Infantile versus Adolescent Blount's
•Infantile Blounts •Adolescent Blounts
•Age •2-5yrs •>10yrs
•Bilaterally •50% bilateral •Usually unilateral
•Risks
•Early walking, large stature,
obesity
•Obesity
•Classification •Langenskiold •No radiographic classification
•Severity
•More severe physeal/
epiphyseal disturbance
•Less severe physeal/ epiphyseal
disturbance
•Bone Involvement
•Proximal medial tibia physis,
producing genu varus, flexion,
internal rotation, AND may have
compensatory distal femoral
VALGUS
•Proximal tibia physis, AND may have
distal femoral VARUS and distal tibia
valgus
•Natural History
•Self-limited - stage II and IV can
exhibit spontaneous resolution
•Progressive, never resolves
spontaneously (thus bracing unlikely to
work)
•Treatment options •Bracing and surgery •Surgery only
Adolescent Blount's
Disease
progressive, pathologic
genu varum centered at
the tibia in children > 10
years of age.
Treatment is generally
surgical epiphysiodesis or
osteotomy depending on
severity of deformity and
amount of growth left.
ETIOLOGY
• Less common
• less severe
• more likely to be unilateral
• more likely to have femoral deformity
• obesity
• African-American descent
• Pathophysiology-dyschondrosis of medial
physis of proximal tibia – multifactorial-
mechanical overload in genetically
susceptible individuals
PRESENTATION
hallmark is genu varum
deformity
obesity
usually unilateral
(compared to bilateral in
infantile Blount's)
limb-length discrepancy
secondary to deformity
mild to moderate laxity of
medial collateral ligament
May have femoral varus
and distal tibia valgus
RADIOGRAPHIC findings
s/o adolescent Blount's
disease
narrowing of the tibial
epiphysis
widening of the medial
tibial growth plate
occasional widening of the
lateral distal femoral physis
metaphyseal breaking less
commonly seen with
adolescent Blount's
Treatment
• Surgical
• 1. Lateral tibia and fibular epiphysiodesis
• 2. Proximal tibia/fibula osteotomy
• 3. distal femoral osteotomy or epiphysiodesis
Lateral tibia and fibular
epiphysiodesis
indications
mild to moderate deformity with growth remaining
outcomes
up to 25% may require formal osteotomy due to residual
deformity
a. transient hemiepiphysiodesis
tether physis with 8-plates or staple
may remove implant once correction is achieved
simple
allows for gradual correction is children with adequate
growth remaining
b. permanent hemiepiphysiodesis
obliteration of physis through small, lateral incision
limited surgery
overcorrection is uncommon
cannot correct rotational deformity
up to 25% may require formal corrective osteotomy
Proximal tibia/fibula osteotomy
indications
more severe cases in the skeletally mature
- valgus producing tibial osteotomy and plating
-external fixation
goals of correction
overcorrection to valgus not indicated (as is the case in infantile Blount's)
strive for neutral mechanical axi
High Tibial Osteotomy With Rigid Internal
Fixation
variety of techniques, including closing
wedge, opening wedge, dome, serrated
and inclined osteotomies
variety of fixation devices including cast,
pins and wires, screws, plates and screws
post-op
limited weight bearing with use of
crutches for 6-8 weeks
immediate correction
potential for neurologic injury due to
acute lengthening
potential for compartment syndrome
Osteotomy With External
Fixation And Gradual Correction
perform osteotomy, and connect frame that
allows for gradual correction
Taylor Spatial Frame or Ilizarov ring external
fixator
post-op
usually 12-18 weeks of treatment are needed
gradual correction limits neurovascular
compromise and risk for compartment
syndrome
allows for correction of deformity in all planes
pin site infection
duration of treatment
bulk of construct
Distal Femoral Osteotomy Or
Epiphysiodesis
indications
for distal femoral
varus deformity of 8
degrees or greater
REFERENCES
• Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics 14th
edition (2021)
• Apley's System of Orthopaedics and Fractures
• TUREK orthopedic principles and application
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
• https://www.orthobullets.com/

blounts disease.pptx

  • 1.
  • 2.
    HISTORICAL BACKGROUND • ERLACHER(1922) –first description of tibia vara and internal rotation • Walter BLOUNT(1937)-described tibia vara
  • 3.
    Blount: • An osteochondrosissimilar to coxa plana and madelung deformity but located at the medial side of proximal tibial epiphysis
  • 4.
    • Anders Langenskloid(1952) • -radiographic changes and stages of disease in scandinavian population
  • 5.
    synonyms • Infantile tibiavara • Erlachers disease • Blount-barber disease • Subepiphyseal osteochondropathy • Non rachitic bow legs • Osteitis deformans tibia
  • 7.
    • Secondary effects •-internal torsion of tibia • -insufficient ossification of the medial portion of medial tibial condyle • Streched LCL
  • 8.
    ANATOMY • Genu varumis a normal physiologic process in children • genu varum (bowed legs) is normal in children less than 2 years • genu varum migrates to a neutral at ~ 14 months • continues on to a peak genu valgum (knocked knees) at ~ 3 years of age • genu valgum then migrates back to normal physiologic valgus(<15) at ~ 7 years of age
  • 11.
    Types • 2 types •1-Infantile-begins before 8 years of age • 2-Adolescent- begins after 10 years of age but before skeletal maturity • A) b/w 10 and 13 years -partial closure of epiphysis - trauma/infection • B) b/w 10 and 13 years –black and obese children-no distinct cause
  • 12.
    INFANTILE BLOUNTS DISEASE •progressive pathologic genu varum centered at the tibia in children 2 to 5 years of age. • Diagnosis- presence of a genu varum/flexion/internal rotation deformity and confirmed radiographically with an increased metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle. • Treatment - bracing to surgery (patient age, severity of deformity, and presence of a physeal bar.)
  • 13.
    ETIOLOGY Idiopathic more common male >female bilateral in 50% Altered enchondral ossification Risk factors overweight children early walkers (< 1 year) Hispanic and African American
  • 14.
    Pathophysiology • multifactorial -butrelated to mechanical overload in genetically susceptible individuals • excessive medial pressure produces an osteochondrosis of the medial proximal tibial physis and epiphysis • (osteochondrosis can progress to a physeal bar)
  • 15.
    • Intra articularpathology • Enlargement and hypermobility of medial meniscus • Depression of anterior aspect of medial femoral condyle • Depression of posteromedial plateau of tibia
  • 17.
    type I toIV consist of increasing medial metaphyseal beaking and sloping type V and VI have an epiphyseal-metaphyseal bony bridge (congenital bar across physis) At stage 6 – medial portion of epiphysis fuses at 90 degree downward angle
  • 18.
    PRESENTATION • Physical examination •genu varum/flexion/internal rotation deformity • usually b/l in infants • lateral thrust on walking • Waddling gait • may exhibit positive 'cover-up test' • often associated with internal tibial torsion • leg length discrepancy
  • 20.
    • usually NOtenderness, restriction of motion, effusion • Bony hard non tender prominence –palpable at the medial epiphysiometaaphyseal junction • SIFFERT KATZ sign-as the extended knee is slightly flexed---medial femoral condyle engages tibial medial plateau depression and sublaxates posteromedially (varus instability at 15 degree knee flexion)
  • 21.
    • Long standingneglected cases’ • -slight flexion deformity added • Unstable joint-lax ligaments • Medial compartment OA knee
  • 22.
    IMAGING Radiographs • standing long-cassetteAP radiograph of both lower extremities • ensure that patella are facing forwards for evaluation (commonly associated with internal tibial torsion) – findings suggestive of Blounts disease • medial and posterior sloping of proximal tibial epiphysis(short ,thin,wedged,irregular) • varus focused at proximal tibia • severe deformity(asymmetric bowing) • sharp angular deformity(progressive)
  • 23.
    metaphyseal breaking different than physiologic bowingwhich shows a symmetric flaring of the tibia and femur Often palpable Not diagnostic Pathognomic-progressive disease
  • 25.
  • 28.
    Other investigations • Ctscan to r/o physeal bar • Double contrast arthrography and arthroscopy –intra articular pathology(articular surface defects,medial meniscus) • Histological findings’ • -delayed ossification of medial epiphysis and proximal tibia • -cell hypertrophy • Dense cellularity • Fibrocartilage islands • Abnormally large group of capilaries
  • 30.
    DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS • Persistentphysiological varus • Rickets • osteogenesis imperfecta • Multiple Episphyseal Dysplasia(fairbanks d/s) • Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia • metaphyseal dysostosis (Schmidt, Jansen) • focal fibrocartilaginous defect • thrombocytopenia absent radius • proximal tibia physeal injury (radiation, infection, trauma)
  • 31.
  • 32.
    TREATMENT • Nonoperative • BRACETREATMENT WITH KneeAnkleFootOrthosis indications • Stage I and II in children < 3 years • technique • bracing - approximately 2 years for resolution of bony changes outcomes • improved outcomes if unilateral • poor results -obesity and bilaterality • if successful, improvement - within 1 year
  • 33.
    KAFO Prefered by Railey Valgusforce at 3 points 23 hrs/day Full weight bearinng
  • 34.
    ELASTIC BLOUNT BRACE 1987 Wide elasticband just distal to knee joint
  • 35.
    OPERATIVE • PROXIMAL TIBIA/FIBULAVALGUS OSTEOTOMY • overcome the varus/flexion/internal rotation deformity indications • Stage I and II in children > 3 years • Stage III, IV, V, VI • age ≥ 4y (all stages) • failure of brace treatment • progressive deformity • metaphyseal-diaphyseal angles > 20 degrees outcomes • risk of recurrence is significantly lessened if performed before 4 years of age
  • 36.
    OSTEOTOMY GOALS OF CORRECTION •overcorrect into 10-15° of valgus because medial physeal growth abnormalities persist • distal segment is fixed in valgus, external rotation and lateral translation
  • 38.
    RAB OSTEOTOMY(meta physeal/oblique) A-transverse incision at tibialtubercle B-y shaped periosteal incision C-insertion of steinman pin D-mark saw and osteotomy(prevent overpenetration) E-oblique cut beneath pin F-rotation of osteotomy and fixation with lag screw
  • 41.
  • 44.
  • 45.
    • PHYSEAL BARRESECTION • indication • at least 4y of growth remaining • technique • perform together with osteotomy • interpositional material is usually fat or PMMA
  • 46.
    COMPLICATIONS • 1.Compartment syndrome(with high tibial/fibular osteotomy)-prophylactic release of anterior compartment • 2.CPN palsy • 3.anterior tibia artery injury 4.Recurrence of tibial vara • severe cases-- physeal bar-- progressive varus after a well executed proximal tibial valgus osteotomy--- require a lateral tibial hemiepiphysiodesis or physeal bar resection
  • 47.
    Physeal bar • MCcause of recurrence • Greene criteria(CT scan) • 1.age>5 • 2.medial physeal slope 50-70 degree • 3.langenskiold grade 4 or more’ • 4.body weight >95 th percentile • 5.black girls who meet previous criteria
  • 48.
    PROGNOSIS • Best outcomes •early diagnosis and unloading of the medial joint with either bracing or an osteotomy • Young children with stage II and stage IV can have spontaneous correction
  • 49.
    •Infantile versus AdolescentBlount's •Infantile Blounts •Adolescent Blounts •Age •2-5yrs •>10yrs •Bilaterally •50% bilateral •Usually unilateral •Risks •Early walking, large stature, obesity •Obesity •Classification •Langenskiold •No radiographic classification •Severity •More severe physeal/ epiphyseal disturbance •Less severe physeal/ epiphyseal disturbance •Bone Involvement •Proximal medial tibia physis, producing genu varus, flexion, internal rotation, AND may have compensatory distal femoral VALGUS •Proximal tibia physis, AND may have distal femoral VARUS and distal tibia valgus •Natural History •Self-limited - stage II and IV can exhibit spontaneous resolution •Progressive, never resolves spontaneously (thus bracing unlikely to work) •Treatment options •Bracing and surgery •Surgery only
  • 50.
    Adolescent Blount's Disease progressive, pathologic genuvarum centered at the tibia in children > 10 years of age. Treatment is generally surgical epiphysiodesis or osteotomy depending on severity of deformity and amount of growth left.
  • 51.
    ETIOLOGY • Less common •less severe • more likely to be unilateral • more likely to have femoral deformity • obesity • African-American descent • Pathophysiology-dyschondrosis of medial physis of proximal tibia – multifactorial- mechanical overload in genetically susceptible individuals
  • 52.
    PRESENTATION hallmark is genuvarum deformity obesity usually unilateral (compared to bilateral in infantile Blount's) limb-length discrepancy secondary to deformity mild to moderate laxity of medial collateral ligament May have femoral varus and distal tibia valgus
  • 53.
    RADIOGRAPHIC findings s/o adolescentBlount's disease narrowing of the tibial epiphysis widening of the medial tibial growth plate occasional widening of the lateral distal femoral physis metaphyseal breaking less commonly seen with adolescent Blount's
  • 54.
    Treatment • Surgical • 1.Lateral tibia and fibular epiphysiodesis • 2. Proximal tibia/fibula osteotomy • 3. distal femoral osteotomy or epiphysiodesis
  • 55.
    Lateral tibia andfibular epiphysiodesis indications mild to moderate deformity with growth remaining outcomes up to 25% may require formal osteotomy due to residual deformity a. transient hemiepiphysiodesis tether physis with 8-plates or staple may remove implant once correction is achieved simple allows for gradual correction is children with adequate growth remaining b. permanent hemiepiphysiodesis obliteration of physis through small, lateral incision limited surgery overcorrection is uncommon cannot correct rotational deformity up to 25% may require formal corrective osteotomy
  • 56.
    Proximal tibia/fibula osteotomy indications moresevere cases in the skeletally mature - valgus producing tibial osteotomy and plating -external fixation goals of correction overcorrection to valgus not indicated (as is the case in infantile Blount's) strive for neutral mechanical axi
  • 57.
    High Tibial OsteotomyWith Rigid Internal Fixation variety of techniques, including closing wedge, opening wedge, dome, serrated and inclined osteotomies variety of fixation devices including cast, pins and wires, screws, plates and screws post-op limited weight bearing with use of crutches for 6-8 weeks immediate correction potential for neurologic injury due to acute lengthening potential for compartment syndrome
  • 58.
    Osteotomy With External FixationAnd Gradual Correction perform osteotomy, and connect frame that allows for gradual correction Taylor Spatial Frame or Ilizarov ring external fixator post-op usually 12-18 weeks of treatment are needed gradual correction limits neurovascular compromise and risk for compartment syndrome allows for correction of deformity in all planes pin site infection duration of treatment bulk of construct
  • 59.
    Distal Femoral OsteotomyOr Epiphysiodesis indications for distal femoral varus deformity of 8 degrees or greater
  • 61.
    REFERENCES • Campbell’s OperativeOrthopaedics 14th edition (2021) • Apley's System of Orthopaedics and Fractures • TUREK orthopedic principles and application • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ • https://www.orthobullets.com/