Paediatric rotational abnormalities: A primer

Idiopathic rotational abnormalities of the lower limb have been studied extensively in children through to adulthood, but there remains concern among parents and the community whether a normal variant is pathological.

The aim of this article is to draw attention to deformities in the transverse plane and to highlight the variation in normal over time, and according to sex.

Rotational malalignment of the lower limb can be a rare cause of pain in the hip, knee, ankle and foot. Understanding common presentation and physical examination findings is the first step in diagnosing and, ultimately, managing symptomatic rotational abnormalities in children and adolescents.