Influencing factors for physiological genu varum in children

Abstract

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for physiological genu varum in children. Methods A total of 68 children with physiological genu varum who were diagnosed in Department of Child Healthcare in our hospital from November 2019 to November 2023 were enrolled as physiological genu varum group, and 108 healthy children who attended the outpatient service during the same period of time were enrolled as control group. The two groups were compared in terms of Z-scores of age, height and weight, age of gross motor development, the distance between two knee joints, and hematological parameters, and a logistic regression analysis was performed for indicators with statistical significance to identify the risk factors for physiological genu varum. Results There were significant differences between the two groups in weight-for-age Z-score, height-for-age Z-score, BMI-for-age Z-score, age of sitting without support, age of standing against furniture, age of walking with support, age of standing without support, age of walking without support, and the distance between two knee joints (t=-29.427-19.674,P<0.001). The logistic regression analysis showed that a high BMI-for-age Z-score and a young age of walking without support were independent risk factors for physiological genu varum in children (P<0.05). Conclusion A high BMI-for-age Z-score and a young age of walking without support are risk factors for physiological genu varum in children, and early identification and intervention can help reduce the incidence rate of physiological genu varum in children.

Keywords

• genu varum|osteochondrodysplasias|child development|athletic injuries|risk factors