The terms valgus and varus refer to angulation (or bowing) within the shaft of a bone or at a joint in the coronal plane. It is determined by the distal part being more medial or lateral than it should be. Whenever the distal part is more medial, it is called varus.
What causes varus valgus?
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause, however, other causes include post-traumatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rickets, and renal osteodystrophy. Regardless of etiology, the valgus malalignment can be corrected with careful analysis of the deformity and a systematic surgical approach.
Is there any varus or valgus movement in the knee?
A possible measure of stability of the knee is the varus–valgus motion during walking. In a normal gait pattern there is minimal varus–valgus motion4. Therefore, the presence of excessive varus–valgus motion of the knee during walking might be a measure of instability of the joint.
What is varus and valgus at the knee?
In a varus (bow-leg) knee, this line passes medial to the center of the knee, increasing force across the medial tibiofemoral compartment. In a valgus (knock-knee) knee, the axis passes lateral to knee center, increasing force across the lateral compartment.
What is varus valgus?
Orthopedics. A varus deformity is an excessive inward angulation (medial angulation, that is, towards the body’s midline) of the distal segment of a bone or joint. The opposite of varus is called valgus. EX: Varus deformity results in a decreased Q angle of the knee joint.
What is varus force and what ligament is involved?
Description. The fibular or lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is a cord-like band and acts as the primary varus stabilizer of the knee.
What does the term varus mean?
Definition of varus 1 : of, relating to, or being a deformity in which an anatomical part is turned inward toward the midline of the body to an abnormal degree a varus heel. 2 : valgus sense 1 —used of the knee.
What is a valgus force on the knee?
The valgus stress test or medial stress test, is a test for damage to the medial collateral ligament of the knee. If the knee is seen to open up on the medial side, this is indicative of medial collateral ligament damage and may also indicate capsular or cruciate ligament laxity.
Is bow legged valgus or varus?
Pain in the hip, knee, and ankle can often be caused by bowlegs (varus deformity) or knock knees (valgus deformity). In other words, when our legs are not aligned straight at the hips, knees, and ankles, there can be an abnormal force across the knee.
What is a varus knee?
Varus knee, also known as genu varum, is a condition that affects the alignment of bones in a person’s leg. If you have this condition, the larger bone in your calf, the tibia, is misaligned with the larger bone in your thigh, the femur. Varus knee is common in newborns.
How do you measure varus and valgus?
Draw a line connecting the center of the knee to the center of the ankle. 5. Measure the angle between the 2 lines. A measurement of 0°/180° implies no deformity; otherwise, the observed angle is the angle of varus or valgus present (valgus if foot is lateral, varus if foot is medial).
What is tibial valgus (genu valgum)?
Figure 2: Tibial Valgus (Genu Valgum) Many of the surrounding soft tissue structures like the lateral ankle ligaments and the peroneal muscles may have to compensate for the unbalanced forces acting on the foot from the subsequent calcaneal varus. The knee joint may also be affected from the genu varum.
What are valgus and Varus?
The terms of valgus and varus refer to alignment of bony segments. Some mistakenly state they are defined by angulations at the knee. However valgus and varus angulations can occur in numerous locations.
What causes Varus angulation in the foot?
Weight coming down over the outside edge of the foot can cause the foot to have a varus angulation (calcaneal varus) as well. Many of the surrounding soft tissue structures like the lateral ankle ligaments and the peroneal muscles may have to compensate for the unbalanced forces acting on the foot from the subsequent calcaneal varus.
What is genu varum (Varus genu)?
Genu Varum- Genu varum (also called varus genu) is the postural distortion commonly referred to as bow-legs. In this postural deviation the varus angulation refers to the tibia. Therefore, it is also referred to as tibial varus. Figure 2 shows the medial deviation of the distal portion of the tibia.
