Cox summer
A deformity of the hip is called coxa vara . In the worst case, this can lead to a shortening or misalignment of the legs. Coxa vara can affect people of all ages.
What is coxa vara?
The Latin term coxa vara means “outwardly bent hip” and describes an incorrect position of the angle between the neck and the shaft of the femur. This angle is called the centrum-collum-diaphyseal angle, or CCD angle for short, and measures between 120 and 130 degrees in adults and between 140 and 150 degrees in newborns.
If the CCD angle is less than 120 degrees, one speaks of coxa vara. If the CCD angle is less than 90 degrees, we are no longer talking about coxa vara, but about a shepherd’s crook deformity. In about 70 percent of all those affected, coxa vara occurs on one side of the body, the remaining 30 percent suffer from a bilateral deformity.
causes
There are a variety of causes for coxa vara, some of which differ according to the age of the person affected. Basically, however, a distinction is made between congenital and acquired coxa vara, with the former occurring very rarely. It often occurs in conjunction with other forms of femur deformity.Coxa vara can also develop with great pressure on the bones, which is caused by an unfavorable position in the womb. Older children can acquire coxa vara by developing Perthes disease, a condition in which bone tissue at the femoral head dies. Rickets , which is caused by a lack of vitamin D , is also considered a possible cause of coxa vara.
In adults, osteodystrophia deformans, a progressive deformity of parts of the skeleton, and Niemann-Pick disease, a metabolic disease , are responsible for the occurrence of coxa vara. Finally, the deformity can be caused by an improperly healed fracture of the femur, fracture of the femoral neck, or inflammation of the bone marrow.
When to the doctor?
Unusual changes in the hip should always be evaluated and checked by a doctor. Regardless of the presence of symptoms or impairments, changes in the skeletal system in most cases do not follow a natural course and must be treated by a doctor. If pain occurs or the changes in the bones spread, a doctor must be consulted. If the pelvis, hips or shoulders are misaligned, medical examinations are necessary to determine the cause.
If the person concerned is limping or has problems moving, a doctor must be consulted. If sitting, standing or lying is restricted, a doctor’s visit is necessary. If the person concerned notices that their legs are of different lengths , they should have these signs clarified. If the symptoms cause insomnia , general malaise or emotional problems, a visit to the doctor is recommended. If physical performance decreases and there are restrictions on movements, these should be clarified.
If muscle problems occur as a result of the changes in the bone structure, a doctor should be consulted. In the case of dizziness, tachycardia or impaired consciousness, the coxa vara triggered disturbances in the blood circulation. A doctor’s visit is necessary because without appropriate treatment measures, a life-threatening condition can occur in severe cases.
symptoms and course
Coxa vara can be recognized by a difference in leg lengths and a resulting limp or limp. In addition, the affected person experiences pain in the hip area , which leads to restricted freedom of movement. Due to the pain, the muscles in the affected region are no longer sufficiently stressed, which leads to muscle weakness .
If the person concerned moves frequently despite the symptoms, strains can occur. In many cases, coxa vara can even lead to a femoral neck fracture , since the femoral neck is no longer sufficiently stabilized due to the reduced angle. Coxa vara can also lead to pseudoarthrosis, i.e. failure of the femoral neck fracture to heal.
Diagnose
If the person affected by coxa vara is an infant, the pediatrician will recognize the deformity as early as the U3 check-up. This is carried out in the 4th to 5th week of life and includes, among other things, a hip ultrasound. In older children, coxa vara is usually not recognized until they are learning to walk, as this is when they limp.
The deformity is also noticeable in adults through a changed movement pattern. The orthopedist also recognizes signs of coxa vara when the affected leg is shorter than the non-affected one. In this case, he takes X-rays of the hip and thigh to be able to make a definitive diagnosis. It is important that Coxa vara is treated immediately, as the disease has a number of consequences.
complications
In most cases, the coxa vara causes a misalignment of the legs. The legs can also be shortened, which can lead to significant restrictions in movement and severe complications in everyday life. The quality of life is significantly reduced by this disease. The patient suffers from severe pain in the hip area. This can be in the form of either rest pain or pressure pain . Pain at rest often leads to sleep disorders and irritability on the part of the patient. The muscles in the affected regions are also weakened, making physical exertion no longer possible.
Sporting activities are also severely restricted. In the further course, excessive strain can also lead to a femoral neck fracture or a strain. In most cases, treatment of the coxa vara leads to a positive course of the disease and the symptoms are eliminated relatively well.
There are no further complications and the affected person does not suffer from any special limitations in adulthood. Life expectancy is also not reduced by the disease. Complications can arise if the coxa vara is treated too late or if the patient exposes himself to severe stress despite the disease.
treatment and therapy
There is no way coxa vara will heal without treatment. In order to relieve the musculoskeletal system, an orthopedic technician first makes an orthosis for the person concerned. It supports the hips and ensures that the CCD angle does not decrease any further. Ideally, an orthosis in small children causes the angle to reach a normal level and thus coxa vara can be treated.In particularly severe cases of coxa vara, the affected person cannot avoid an operation. The neck of the femur is severed and brought into the correct position with metal splints. This is known as a valgus osteotomy. Although it is considered the form of treatment that promises the greatest success in coxa vara, surgery is only performed in severe forms.
prevention
There is no real prevention against Coxa vara. In order to ensure rapid treatment after the occurrence of the deformity, the general practitioner or an orthopedist should be consulted immediately in the event of hip problems. When a child begins to walk, parents are usually quick to tell if they are limping or otherwise struggling to move. In this case, too, an orthopedist should be consulted as soon as possible. If coxa vara is detected early, an orthosis can be used to ensure that the deformity is treated without an operation.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.