Normal Development of Tibiofemoral Angle in Healthy South-Eastern Nigerian Children: A Clinical Study on 3147 Children

Abstract

Abstract Background: Angular deformities of the lower extremities are common in children and are a frequent reason for orthopaedic referral. These deformities, which are usually encountered when children start to walk are typically measured using the tibiofemoral angle (TFA), which represents the angle formed by the intersection of the anatomical axis of the femur with the anatomical axis of the tibia. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the TFA in healthy South-Eastern Nigerian children, and to determine the effect of gender and age on this angle. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in Enugu metropolis with 3147 school children and adolescents aged 3–17 years. Results: It was found that the majority of the subjects (97.6%) had valgus TFA. The maximum knee valgus angle from the study was 6.8° ± 0.80° at 4 years. Thereafter, the knee valgus angle declined to a mean of 2° at 17 years. Conclusion: There were physiological changes in TFAs noted, which vary with regards to both age and gender of the subject.