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A valgus deformity is a condition in which the bone segment
distal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...
to a joint is angled outward, that is, angled laterally, away from the body's midline. The opposite deformation, where the twist or angulation is directed medially, toward the center of the body, is called varus. Common causes of valgus knee ( genu valgum or "knock-knee") in adults include arthritis of the knee and traumatic injuries.


Knee arthritis with valgus knee

Rheumatoid Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including art ...
knee commonly presents as valgus knee.
Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone which affects 1 in 7 adults in the United States. It is believed to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the ...
knee may also sometimes present with valgus deformity though varus deformity is common.
Total knee arthroplasty Knee replacement, also known as knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint to relieve pain and disability, most commonly offered when joint pain is not diminished by conservative sources a ...
(TKA) to correct valgus deformity is surgically difficult and requires specialized implants called constrained condylar knees.


Examples

* Ankle: ''talipes valgus'' (from Latin ''talus'' = ankle and ''pes'' = foot) – outward turning of the heel, resulting in a 'flat foot' presentation. * Elbows: ''
cubitus valgus Cubitus valgus is a medical deformity in which the forearm is angled away from the body to a greater degree than normal when fully extended. A small degree of cubitus valgus (known as the carrying angle) is acceptable and occurs in the general ...
'' (from Latin ''cubitus'' = elbow) – forearm is angled away from the body * Foot: ''pes valgus'' (from Latin ''pes'' = foot) – a medial deviation of the foot at subtalar joint. * Hand: ''manus valgus'' (from Latin ''manus'' = hand) * Hip: '' coxa valga'' (from Latin ''coxa'' = hip) – the shaft of the
femur The femur (; ), or thigh bone, is the proximal bone of the hindlimb in tetrapod vertebrates. The head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum in the pelvic bone forming the hip joint, while the distal part of the femur articulates ...
is bent outward in respect to the neck of the femur. Coxa valga >125 degrees. Coxa vara <125 degrees. * Knee: '' genu valgum'' (from Latin ''genu'' = knee) – the tibia is turned outward in relation to the femur, resulting in a knock-kneed appearance. * Toe: '' hallux valgus'' (from Latin ''hallux'' = big toe) – outward deviation of the big toe toward the second toe, resulting in
bunion A bunion, also known as hallux valgus, is a deformity of the joint connecting the big toe to the foot. The big toe often bends towards the other toes and the joint becomes red and painful. The onset of bunions is typically gradual. Complicatio ...
. * Wrist: ''
Madelung's deformity Madelung's deformity is usually characterized by malformed wrists and wrist bones and is often associated with Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis. It can be bilateral (in both wrists) or just in the one wrist. It has only been recognized within the pas ...
'' – deformity wherein the wrist bones are not formed properly due to a genetic disorder.


Terminology

Valgus is a term for outward angulation of the
distal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...
segment of a
bone A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, ...
or
joint A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...
. The opposite condition is called varus, which is a medial deviation of the distal bone. The terms varus and valgus always refer to the direction that the distal segment of the joint points. The original Latin definitions for ''varus'' and ''valgus'' were the opposite of their current usage. For a discussion of the
etymology Etymology () The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words ...
of these words, see the entry under varus. A mnemonic to remember the two deformities is that valgus contains an "L", for Lateral deviation.


See also

*
Varus deformity Varus may refer to: * Var River or Varus, a river in France * Stura di Lanzo or Varus, a river in Italy * Varus deformity, a medical term for the inward angulation of the distal segment of a bone or joint ** Coxa vara, affecting the hip ** Genu va ...


References

* Canale & Beaty: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics, 11th ed. - 2007 - Mosby, An Imprint of Elsevier * Bowed Leg (Varus) and Knock-Knee (Valgus) Malalignment: Everything You Need to Know to Make the Right Treatment Decision-Understanding lower limb malalignment-Tibial osteotomy for bowed legs, Noyes, Frank R. and Barber-Westin, Sue, Amazon Digital Version, Publish Green (October 6, 2013)


External links

{{Acquired deformities Arthropathies Medical signs Skeletal disorders