Coxa vara is a hip deformity where the femur meets the hip joint at an unusual angle, resulting in one leg being shorter than the other. It can be congenital, developmental, or acquired from injury. Severe cases require surgery, while mild cases may not require treatment.
Coxa vara is a type of hip deformity in which the end of the femur meets the hip joint at an unusual angle. The result is one leg that sticks out slightly, making it shorter than the other leg and often causing the sufferer to walk awkwardly or limp. Coxa vara can be a congenital condition, meaning that the defect arose during pregnancy, an early childhood developmental disorder, or an acquired injury resulting from trauma. When the deformity causes severe mobility problems, surgery is required to correct the angle.
The hip is a ball and socket joint, with the femur end representing the ball. Just below the ball is the femoral neck, a thinner piece of bone that is normally angled about 135 degrees to allow the ball to fit properly in the joint. Coxa vara occurs when the angle is less than 120 degrees. Instead of a leg that’s roughly in line with the hip, an affected femur protrudes from above and angles inward toward the bottom.
The causes of congenital coxa vara are not well understood, although problems can arise due to fetal injury, metabolism problems, or malnutrition in the mother. If the condition is mild, it may go unrecognized for several months or even years until the child shows difficulty crawling, standing, and walking. Developmental coxa vara, which usually worsens from infancy through adolescence, may be caused by a bone disorder, poor diet, or unknown reasons. A person may also develop coxa vara later in life from a car accident, sports injury, fall, or other type of major trauma.
Most cases of coxa vara are unilateral, meaning that only one leg is affected. The condition itself is usually painless, although people may experience aches and pains after activities due to excessive strain on the shorter leg. Severe deformity can significantly limit a person’s ability to walk and run. Constantly limping can also cause emotional distress and self-consciousness.
Coxa vara can usually be diagnosed with plain X-rays. A radiologist can measure the angle of the femoral neck to determine whether or not it is within the normal range. If the problem is mild and the patient is painless, treatment is generally not recommended. Major cases often require surgery to reshape the femoral neck with metal pins and screws. After surgery, a patient can expect to spend several months recovering and possibly years in physical therapy to rebuild strength in their leg.
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