Coxa Vara

• Localised bony dysplasia of the femoral neck
• Characterised by a decreased neck shaft angle and the presence of a triangular ossification defect (Fairbanks Triangle) of the inferior femoral neck and results in decreased length of the involved limb
• The normal neck shaft angle in a child is ~ 160o which decreases to about 120o in the adult

• assumed to be a limb bud abnormality occuring in the developing embryo
• may be difficult to differentiate from DDH
• Significant varus present at birth - but - usually minimal progression during growth
• Associations PFFD, Congenital short femur, Congenital bowed femur

• Normal at birth, develops coxa vara in early childhood, progressive with growth

• Due to neck bending due to bone softening or due to fracture

1. Softening
• children- rickets, bone dystrophies, Perthes, fibrous dysplasia,SUFE
• adults- osteomalacia,
• elderly- osteoporosis, Pagets
• any age- infection -TB or pyogenic

2. Fracture

• children- eg through bone cyst;
  
• adult- eg malunion of # NOF

Category: Orthopedics Notes