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Angular and rotational profile of the lower limb in 2,630 Chinese children
J C Cheng1, P S Chan, S C Chiang
1Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T.
Insights
Lower limb development in Chinese children shows a progression from bowleggedness at birth to knock-knees by age 3, normalizing by age 8. Hip rotation patterns also change significantly during childhood.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Human Anatomy
Background:
- Understanding typical lower limb development is crucial for identifying developmental abnormalities in children.
- Establishing normative data for limb alignment and rotation in diverse pediatric populations is essential for accurate clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the angular and rotational profile of lower limbs in a large cohort of normal Chinese children.
- To establish age-specific reference ranges for key lower limb parameters in Chinese pediatric populations.
- To compare findings with existing data from other racial groups.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 2,630 healthy Chinese children aged 0-12 years.
- Measurements included tibiofemoral angle, intercondylar distance, intermalleolar distance, hip medial and lateral rotation, and thigh-foot angle.
- Data analysis focused on establishing developmental trends and identifying significant variations.
Main Results:
- Children exhibited a trend of being bowlegged at birth, progressing to maximal knock-knees around age 3, and achieving normal alignment by age 8.
- Medial hip rotation increased from birth to a peak of 56 degrees at age 9, while lateral hip rotation decreased to a minimum of 30 degrees at age 9.
- Significant differences were observed when comparing the developmental profiles of Chinese children to those of other racial groups.
Conclusions:
- The study provides valuable normative data for lower limb development in Chinese children.
- Findings highlight distinct developmental trajectories compared to other populations, underscoring the importance of race-specific reference data.
- This data can aid clinicians in the early detection and management of pediatric lower limb conditions.
Abstract:
Angular and rotational profile of the lower limbs of 2,630 normal Chinese children from newborn to age 12 years were compiled using tibiofemoral angle, intercondylar, intermalleolar distance, medial and lateral rotation of the hip, and thigh-foot angle. Children with clinical tibiofemoral angles, intercondylar or intermalleolar distances tended to be bowlegged at birth, maximally knock-kneed at age 3 and to have normal lower limbs by age 8. Medial hip rotation increased steadily from birth to a maximum of 56 degrees at age 9, and lateral hip rotation decreased from birth to a minimum of 30 degrees at age 9. Significant differences between Chinese children and children of other races were highlighted.