Blount's disease

Out of a total of 40 patients affected with Blount's disease treated at the Pediatric Orthopaedic Division of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute between 1965 and 1996, 29 were affected with the infantile type, and 11 with the adolescent type. In the group affected with infantile Blount's disease, the mean age was 5.5 years, 11 were bilateral, for a total of 40 limbs affected, with a mean TMD angle of 24 degrees. All of the patients were treated by valgus osteotomy obtaining a percentage of poor results (insufficient correction or recurrence) equal to 25% according to Schoenecker's criteria. Mean follow-up was 3.6 years. In the group affected with adolescent Blount's disease, mean age was 12.6 years, the affection was always monolateral, the mean TMD angle was 15 degrees. All of the patients except 1 were treated by valgus osteotomy with elevation, and the results were constantly favorable. Mean follow-up was 2 years. The authors believe that the type of osteotomy used must be modulated based on the anatomopathologic findings of compromise in the proximal tibial metaepiphysis.