A varus deformity is an excessive inward angulation ( medial angulation, that is, towards the body's midline) of the

distal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position provi ...

segment of a bone or joint. The opposite of varus is called valgus. The terms varus and valgus always refer to the direction that the

segment of the joint points. For example, in a

valgus deformity A valgus deformity is a condition in which the bone segment distal 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 ...

of the knee, the distal part of the leg below the knee is deviated ''outward, in relation to the femur,'' resulting in a '' knock-kneed'' appearance. Conversely, a ''varus'' deformity at the knee results in a '' bowlegged'' with the distal part of the leg deviated ''inward, in relation to the femur''. However, in relation to the mid-line of the body, the knee joint is deviated towards the mid-line.

Terminology

The terminology is made confusing by the etymology of these words. * The terms ''varus'' and ''valgus'' are both Latin, but confusingly, their Latin meanings conflict with their current usage. In current usage, as noted above, a varus deformity of the knee describes bowed legs, but in the original Latin, ''varus'' meant "knock-kneed." Similarly, while a valgus deformity of the knee would currently describe knocked knees, the original Latin meaning was "bow-legged" * Application of these words in adjectival form to other portions of the body by the medical community has resulted in their definitions changing so that they now refer to the angle of the distal segment (i.e. valgus impaction in a Garden I femoral neck fracture). * It is correct for a knock-kneed deformity to be called both a ''varus'' deformity at the hip (''coxa vara'') and a ''valgus'' deformity at the knee (''genu valgum''); although the common terminology is to simply refer to it as a ''valgus'' knee. When the terminology refers to a bone rather than a joint, the distal segment of the bone is being described. Thus, a varus deformity of the tibia (i.e. a mid-shaft tibial fracture with varus deformity) refers to the distal segment in a varus alignment compared to the proximal segment.

Examples

* Hip: '' coxa vara'' — the angle between the head and the shaft of the femur is reduced, resulting in a limp. * Knee: ''

genu varum Genu varum (also called bow-leggedness, bandiness, bandy-leg, and tibia vara) is a varus deformity marked by (outward) bowing at the knee, which means that the lower leg is angled inward ( medially) in relation to the thigh's axis, giving th ...

'' (from Latin ''genu'' = knee) — the tibia is turned inward in relation to the femur, resulting in a bowlegged deformity. * Ankle: ''talipes varus'' (from Latin ''talus'' = ankle and ''pes'' = foot). A notable subtype is clubfoot or '' talipes equinovarus'', which is where one or both feet are rotated inwards and downwards. * Toe: '' hallux varus'' (Latin ''hallux'' = big toe) — inward deviation of the big toe away from the second toe. * Elbows: '' cubitus varus'' (Latin ''cubitus'' = elbow) — turned inward elbows

References

External links

* Canale & Beaty: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics, 11th ed. - 2007 - Mosby, An Imprint of Elsevier {{DEFAULTSORT:Varus Deformity Skeletal disorders Medical signs Arthropathies

Terminology

Examples

See also

References

External links