title: [A roentgenographical study on the aging process of alignment of the lower extremities in children--with special reference to pain in the lower extremity].
abstract: To date, detailed reports are not available in large number concerning the alignment of lower extremities of children. Moreover, those already published are primarily concerned only with normal children, failing to make a sound comparison of lower extremity alignment between normal children and children with complaints about lower extremity alignment. Following is the summary of extensive research the author has done by comparing statistical data obtained--such as measurements of condylar distance, malleolar distance, and alignments of lower extremities--from 269 cases of normal children (538 lower extremities), from 2 years to 15 years, and 173 cases of children with pain (215 lower extremities), from 3 years to 15 years. Most of the children aged five years and older, whose main complaint is pain in their lower extremities, were found to show significant variations in the alignment of their lower extremities and were compared to normal children. When the intercondylar distance is greater than 10 mm, it is imperative to carefully investigate the alignment of the patient's lower extremities, because the pain is almost always found due to the malalignment. Bow legs and knock knees are not only deformity but also frequently accompanied by pain. Therefore, Lanz's method is most useful to evaluate bow legs and knock knees.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging