by Virgil Teague

Created on: July 20, 2008

BOWLEGGED BILLIE

Peer pressure can be as painful as a physical hurt. That was certainly the case for a pretty little six-year-old girl named Billie Jean.

True, Billie had an odd walk; she sometimes stumbled and fell. It was also true that her legs had a somewhat bowed appearance. But for her school chums to call her "Bowlegged Billie" and to tease her about it just proves how cruel children can be, particularly when confronted with a "different" appearance or behavior among their peers.

Fortunately, Billie's parents were informed and emotionally supportive of their young daughter. When their pediatrician diagnosed Billie with excess femoral anteversion, he also put himself in a supportive role by expaining in detail. With solid information in hand, Billie's parents were able to take a long view of her situation and help her understand that the problem would pass as she grew older.

Minor femoral anteverision often goes undiagnosed, but even if your physician tells you your child has "excess" anteversion, there's no need to panic.

Essentially, the condition is an inward twisting of the femur - what we laymen call the "thighbone" - which causes the knees and feet to invert, or to turn inward. Most physicians agree that it's caused by a slight malpositioning of the baby while in the
womb. This misposition results in tight hip muscles, making standing and walking a bit more
difficult for the child.

Diagonsis is generally made after the child has been a walker for some time - around the ages of four to six years old. Parents may report walking problems or repeated falling for
no apparent reason. X-ray, CAT scan or MRI results may be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment may be based on the child's age, general health and medical history, tolerance of medications or treatment therapies and of course the opinions and preferences of the parents.

If the condition is marked, special shoes or even braces may be prescribed - but not to worry. Your child won't be wearing them forever. As a rule, femoral anteversion is self-correcting by the time a child reaches eight or ten years of age. Only in the most severe cases is orthopaedic surgery employed to straighten the femur.

Interestingly, the tendency toward excess femoral anteversion is genetic: it may run in the family. Or walk and stumble a bit, to make light of the matter.

The condition doesn't lead to health problems in later years, such as arthritis, and it's one of the amazingly self-corrective machinations of the human body in all but the most severe cases.

Truly, if your pediatrician or physician tells you your child has the condition, it's not time to hit the panic button. It is, however, time to reinforce the emotional support your child may need for a few years, particularly if corrective orthotics are called for.

In time, Billie Jean became a beautiful young woman, played tennis competitively and was known to be one of the fastest runners among her friends. Her early nickname, "Bowlegged Bille" was lost to the years that brought her a husband and a family of her own...none of whom had the condition.

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