Long Limbs Carrying Angles – Cubitus or Genu Valgum or Varus
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Note what signs you see.
I (W. Wertelecki, M.D.) see an angle formed by the axis of proximal and distal parts of the lower limb. In medical parlance when the distant end of the axis points towards the midline of the body, the term is varum and valgus if it points outward. This terminology can be confusing because the midline may refer to the limb and not the body. In practice, knocked-knees like two parentheses approaching at the knees as depicted next – )( – are called genu valgum – the opposite is “bow-legged” or like (), are called genu varum. This patient has a mild degree of genu valgum. In any case, this is an important subtle clinical sign of particularly importance in patients with short stature.
PERSPECTIVE: Please see this patient’s page***.
