Gait disorders and leg deformities in children

Gait disorders and leg deformities have become the most prevalent orthopedic problems in children in Japan. Usually, at the first visit to our outpatient clinics, there are many difficulties in fully determining the causes and prognoses of these problems. Several series of observations, carried out at intervals, will be required to ascertain whether these problems are really pathologic or whether they are actually within the normal range. In-toeing gait and bow-legged deformities were the most common complaints observed in each of the above problems. The conditions in the majority of such patients were observed to spontaneously improve with time. However, we must always focus on the patient's past history, beginning from infancy, and we must carry out some physical examinations so as not to overlook any actual disorders underlying the patient's present condition.