Tibial bowing in children

There is a broad collection of different conditions that can lead to tibial bowing. In this article we review the causes of tibial deformity in children and give an overview of the management of this group. Readers should gain an awareness of the varying presentations of these different conditions and be able to differentiate between the relatively benign and the more challenging pathologies that present in childhood. An appreciation of the natural history and classification of these disorders and an understanding of the various management options will allow the appropriate counselling of affected families.In this article we will review normal childhood development and cover the causes of genu varum deformity, such as Blount's disease, metabolic disorders and skeletal dysplasias. We will also consider the challenging condition of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia and review some of the congenital longitudinal growth disturbances that can affect the tibia.