Best Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery in Bangalore | Kshema Pediatrix

In most cases, bowed legs (Genu Varum) are completely normal in babies and toddlers up to age 2. It is a natural result of how their legs were folded in the womb. Their legs typically straighten naturally as they stand and walk. However, you should consult a pediatric orthopaedic doctor if:

• The bowing is only on one leg.

• It gets progressively worse after age 2.

• Your child limps, complains of pain, or is significantly short in stature (which could indicate Rickets or Blount's disease).

Yes, this is known as Knock-Knees (Genu Valgum). Between ages 2 and 5, most children naturally develop mild-to-moderate knock-knees as part of normal skeletal alignment. In most children, the legs realign and straighten naturally by age 7 to 8 without braces or special shoes. Medical evaluation is only needed if the gap between the ankles is greater than 3 inches, causes tripping/pain, or affects only one leg.

Growth plates (physes) are areas of active cartilage near the ends of long bones where growth occurs. While a growth plate injury (Salter-Harris fracture) sounds alarming, most heal completely without long-term issues if treated promptly by a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Specialists use growth-preserving techniques—such as smooth K-wires or flexible titanium elastic nails—that hold the bone together without disturbing the delicate growth cartilage.

Toe-walking is very common in toddlers learning to walk (up to age 2 to 3) as a habit known as Idiopathic Toe-Walking. If your child can voluntarily stand flat-footed when asked, it usually resolves on its own. However, if the heel tendon (Achilles) is tight and they cannot touch their heel to the ground, or if toe-walking continues past age 3, a specialist may recommend physical therapy stretching, custom nighttime splints, serial casting, or rarely, a minor tendon lengthening procedure.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is silent because it rarely causes pain in infants. Signs to watch for include:

• Uneven skin folds on the thighs or buttocks.

• One leg appearing slightly shorter than the other.

• A "clicking" or "popping" sound when moving the baby's hips during diaper changes.

• A limp or waddling gait once the child starts walking.

  Diagnosis is confirmed via a painless pediatric hip ultrasound.

This is very frequently Osgood-Schlatter Disease, an inflammation of the growth area at the top of the shinbone where the kneecap tendon attaches. It is extremely common in active adolescents going through a growth spurt. It is temporary and benign—treated with temporary activity modification, ice, stretching the quadriceps, and supportive knee straps. It resolves fully once bone growth matures.

No, almost all young children have flexible flat feet. Infants and toddlers have a natural fat pad in the arch, and foot arches do not fully develop until around age 6 to 8. As long as the arch reappears when your child stands on their tiptoes (flexible flat foot) and causes no pain, special orthotic shoes or arch inserts are unnecessary and do not speed up arch development.

Guided Growth (Hemiepiphysiodesis) is a minimally invasive procedure used for severe knock-knees, bowlegs, or leg length differences. Instead of cutting the bone (osteotomy), the surgeon attaches a miniature figure-8 titanium plate over one side of the growth plate using two small screws. As the child grows over 6 to 12 months, the unplated side grows faster, allowing the body's natural growth to gently pull the bone straight. Once aligned, the mini plate is removed.

Children's bones are not just smaller adult bones—they are living, growing structures with open growth cartilage and higher periosteal healing power. Regular adult hardware (rigid plates and heavy screws) can permanently damage a child's growth plate, causing growth arrest or limb asymmetry. Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons are sub-specialized in growth-conscious techniques that protect future height and joint development.