Who knew that this fire ant specialist was an orthopedic surgeon. A terrific explanation. After digestion of this growth information, one can appreciate how a century or more ago when vitamin D deficiency was a widespread problem resulting in weakness at growth plate locations, bowing of bones during youth (couldn't stop a pig in a ditch) was more common. Now if there is a very undesirable shortening of one leg due to a fracture (less common now) there are growth charts which can be consulted and combining age along with width (thickness of growth plates demonstrated on imaging) one can surgically damage the growth plate on the longer side in those calculated to be sufficiently tall at maturity, to attempt leg length equalization. The Vitamin D deficient rickets along with a genetic condition of Vitamin D resistant rickets, is an unlikely cause of lower limbs bowing in developed countries. Most commonly seen bow legs these days are due to abrading of the inner side of the joint after maturity due to wear and tear arthritis.
Who knew that this fire ant specialist was an orthopedic surgeon. A terrific explanation. After digestion of this growth information, one can appreciate how a century or more ago when vitamin D deficiency was a widespread problem resulting in weakness at growth plate locations, bowing of bones during youth (couldn't stop a pig in a ditch) was more common. Now if there is a very undesirable shortening of one leg due to a fracture (less common now) there are growth charts which can be consulted and combining age along with width (thickness of growth plates demonstrated on imaging) one can surgically damage the growth plate on the longer side in those calculated to be sufficiently tall at maturity, to attempt leg length equalization. The Vitamin D deficient rickets along with a genetic condition of Vitamin D resistant rickets, is an unlikely cause of lower limbs bowing in developed countries. Most commonly seen bow legs these days are due to abrading of the inner side of the joint after maturity due to wear and tear arthritis.