[Coxa vara in children. Apropos of 28 cases]

Infantile coxa-vara is an infrequent lesion and two etiologic factors have been recognised: mechanical and genetic. As in Blount's disease, the same populations (black and scandinavian people) are usually affected. Twenty eight patients with 42 infantile coxa vara were reviewed. The diagnosis was often late. The radiographs showed the decrease of the neck-shaft angle and the signs of cervical dystrophy. The aggravation of the coxa vara is usual and pseudarthrosis or osteo-arthritis can be observed. Thirty six femoral valgus sub-trochanteric osteotomies were done. The results were best when the surgery was done before the age of 9 years. When the surgery was done later, an epiphysiodesis of the greater trochanter was associated to the femoral osteotomy if the epiphyseal cartilage was fused. Langenskiold's osteotomy was used only when the neck-shaft angle was lower than 80 degrees. The results were evaluated according to the neck shaft angle and the morphology of the femoral head: 22 very good and good, 11 fair and 3 bad results were noted.