18. Lower leg and knee disorders in children

The various knee and lower leg abnormalities and deformities seen in general practice are often linked to different age periods. A distinction can also be made between congenital abnormalities and deformities that occur during growth. The congenital abnormalities are relatively rare. The majority of variations in axis and length are seen during growth. Some of these variations are physiologic and will normalise during growth. In this chapter the more frequently occurring abnormalities and deformities at different ages are discussed. The most important learning objective is to distinguish between abnormalities and deformities for which a ‘wait and see’ policy is appropriate, and those that need referral to a certified centre of expertise.