Blount's disease: treatment at home

Recently, doctors in young patients are increasingly diagnosing various musculoskeletal disorders. The prevalence of pathology of the musculoskeletal system has increased 2.5-fold over the past 10 years. Among them, second place after rickets is Blaunt's disease.

For the first time the pathology was described by the Austrian orthopedist Erlacher in 1922. A little later, Blount expanded the notion of this disease, calling the deformation of the tibia as its main clinical manifestation. Its curvature in the upper part leads to a persistent impairment of mobility in the knee joint. As a result, the growth of the cartilage is suspended or stopped altogether.

Causes and mechanism of development of the disease

The exact causes of this disease are unknown. Doctors make several assumptions on this issue. Blount's disease can be caused by local chondrodysplasia, because of which the epiphyseal cartilage of the tibia is involved in the pathological process. These phenomena explain the presence of congenital anomalies in the majority of the patients being examined, and also suggest an inherited relationship.

The starting mechanism for the pathological process are two factors: immaturity of the musculoskeletal system and anatomical defects in the structure of the lower limbs. When varus setting the shin, the patient is experiencing an overstrain of the external or internal condyle. As a result, the epiphysis increases, assumes a wrong position and is shifted. Excessive pressure affects not only bones, but also muscle tissue. As the pathological process develops, the situation is only aggravated - cartilaginous tissue is more slowly transformed into bone and can not withstand such a load that a healthy person can.

Among the factors predisposing to the disease are the following:

• Overweight;
• Violations of the endocrine system;
• Congenital defects of the tibia.

Among other reasons, it is also necessary to note the deficiency of vitamin D. If it is deficient or impaired digestibility in the body, a mutation may occur which, as a result, leads to the development of the disease.

Symptoms and first manifestations

Blaunth's disease in children occurs from the first days of life, but begins to manifest only to the age of two. Initially, parents notice a slight curvature in the shin area. In the future, this process is only aggravated. The child can not stand on his feet for a long time, constantly trying to sit down or hold on to the support. Already at this stage, the baby begins to limp, he has a characteristic duck walk (moving from one foot to the other). The amount of curvature of the leg can vary from 20 to 80 degrees.

The lack of competent treatment leads to disruption of proportions in the size of the limbs. The legs are noticeably shortened, and the hands on their background seem excessively long. Sometimes the fingers of the hands reach to the knees. Against the background of such changes, flat feet appear in the patients, the tonus of the calf muscles decreases .

Medical examination and diagnostics

What should I do if I suspect Blount's disease? Photos of manifestations of the pathological process help many parents at an early stage to identify violations. To confirm the diagnosis, a consultation with an orthopedic doctor is necessary. It is enough for a specialist to examine the child and conduct a simple test. The baby is asked to lower the legs, after which the distance between the extremities is estimated. If it is more than 5 cm, the child is not sent an X-ray to get a complete clinical picture. With the development of complications (various pathologies of cartilage or bone tissue), MRI and CT may be required. According to the results of the examination, the doctor refutes or confirms the diagnosis of "Blount disease".

Home Treatment

Self-treatment of Blount's disease is not welcome, be sure to consult an orthopedist. The choice of the method of therapy depends on the stage of the pathological process, the age of the patient and the individual characteristics of the organism. At the initial stage excellent results are shown by physical therapy and special massage for correcting abnormalities. Complex LFK includes corrective poses. Exercises can be performed at home after they are prescribed by a doctor. At the expressed planostopia the child should wear orthopedic footwear. It also shows the observance of a diet rich in minerals and vitamins. Mud applications and sea baths are recommended for all small patients, regardless of the stage of Blount's disease. Treatment with the use of drugs to stimulate muscle activity is not always justified.

Surgical intervention

Surgery is indicated for those patients in whom conservative therapies did not produce the desired results. As a rule, these are children 3-6 years old. Surgical intervention involves the excision of fragments of the tibia with the mandatory imposition of Ilizarov's apparatus. The operated elements are fastened with plates and screws, sometimes it is advisable to use external metal frames.

In the postoperative period, further follow-up is required from an orthopedic physician. The specialist must select a rehabilitation program for the patient. The recovery period usually takes up to two years. If successful, the patients quickly adapt to the habitual way of life.

Preventive measures

How to prevent Blount's disease? Doctors recommend from the first months of the baby's life to control his weight. Excess body weight often leads to deformation of bones. Do not rush the child so that he quickly began to walk. Muscles of children develop consistently. First they become stronger, and the baby begins to turn over on the stomach, then sit and crawl, but only after taking the first steps.

Pediatricians recommend that during the first 12 months of life the child give him vitamin D, because he is responsible for strengthening the bone apparatus. At the age of 1 year, the baby must undergo certain physicians. It is necessary to visit the orthopedist, let visible violations and absent. Not all parents listen to the advice of doctors, so Blount's disease, the reasons for which are described above, is not uncommon today. However, early diagnosis and competent treatment increase the chances of a speedy recovery.