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Unilateral outward-turning leg in infancy.
British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.)
|March 7, 1981
Summary
A previously undocumented infant leg condition, characterized by external rotation, was observed in 100 children. This common, benign condition typically resolves on its own, presenting an excellent prognosis for affected infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- An unreported condition affecting infant legs was identified in over 130 children referred to a single hospital between 1973 and 1979.
- The study focused on 100 of these infants to characterize the condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe an unrecognized condition of infant leg positioning.
- To determine the characteristics, potential causes, and prognosis of this condition.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 100 infant cases with the condition.
- Analysis of hip joint range of motion and radiographic findings.
- Review of obstetric records for 70 cases to explore potential etiological links.
Main Results:
- The condition involved one leg, typically the right, lying in external rotation.
- No loss or restriction of hip joint movement was observed, though rotational arcs often differed.
- Eleven children exhibited mild forefoot hooking on the unaffected side; hip radiographs were normal in all cases.
- No correlation was found between birth position and the affected limb side.
Conclusions:
- The infant leg condition appears to be a variant of normal development.
- Despite potential parental and physician anxiety, the condition has an excellent prognosis and resolves spontaneously in most cases.