Management of knee deformity in hereditary multiple exostoses: a case report

This article discusses a case of hereditary multiple exostoses suffered by a female patient. The typical clinical and radiographic signs and symptoms are presented. Particular attention is focused on management of a specific knee complaint caused by this condition and the epidemiology of lower limb dysfunction associated with multiple exostoses. Knee deformity in patients with multiple hereditary exostoses presents primarily as genu valgum caused by valgus angulation of the tibia. Changes in ratio of the fibular length to the tibial length are also evident in such patients. The natural history of these deformities is progression with variable weakness, functional impairment, and cosmetic deformity of the extremity. Since malignant degeneration of exostoses to chondrosarcoma is a possibility, management of biomechanical complaints requires continued re-evaluation, rehabilitative techniques and surgical referral if indicated.