Coxa Vara / Coxa Valga

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Searched databases: Pubmed, PEDRo, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct

Due to the low incidence of coxa vara which is even lower for coxa valga little recent literature is currently available. Therefore, this page will predominently discribe the complete pathology of coxa vara.

Definition/Description

Coxa valga is defined when the femoral neck shaft angle as greater than 139 °.  

Coxa vara is as a varus deformity of the femoral neck. It may be defined when the angle between the neck and shaft of the femur is less than 110 – 120 ° (which is normally between 135 ° - 145 °) in children.

Coxa vara is classified into several subtypes:

• Congenital coxa vara is present at birth and is caused by an embryonic limb bud abnormality.
• Developmental coxa vara occurs as an isolated deformity of the proximal femur. It tends to go unnoticed until walking age is reached, when the deformity results in a leg length difference or abnormal gait pattern.
• Acquired coxa vara is caused by an underlying condition such as fibrous dysplasia, rickets, or traumatic proximal femoral epiphyseal plate closure.
  

Clinically Relevant Anatomy

Congenital coxa vara results in a decrease in metaphyseal bone as a result of abnormal maturation and ossification of proximal femoral chondrocyte. As a result of congenital coxa vara, the inferior medial area of the femoral neck may be fragmented. A progressive varus deformity might also occur in congenital coxa vara as well as excessive growth of the trochanter and shortening of the femoral neck.

A review on the development of coxa vara shows an association with spondylometaphyseal dysplasia, demonstrating that stimulated corner fractures were present in most instances.

A case study shows also that a varus position of the neck is believed to prevent hip subluxation associated with femoral lengthening. An associated dysplastic acetabulum can lead to a hip subluxation.
This case study shows also that the acetabulum is abnormal in coxa vara. Acetabular index (AI) and sourcil slope (SS) are significantly different than in the normal acetabulum.

Epidemiology /Etiology

Femoral neck fractures (< 1 % of all pediatric fractures in children) are associated with a high incidence of complications. The most serious ones with high and long–term morbidity being osteonecrosis and coxa vara.

A retrospective study of femoral neck fractures in children show the following complications:
1) avascular necrosis (14.5%)
2) limb shortening in seven (11.3%)
3) coxa vara (8%) and premature epiphysis fusion (8%)
4) coxa valga (3.2%), arthritic changes (3.2%).
5) non-union in one (1.6%)

Premature epiphyseal closure is described as one of the ethiological factors of coxa vara. Incidences of premature physeal closure reported in the literature range from 6 % to 62 %.
Another possible explanation for the high occurrence of coxa vara is the loss of reduction after initial fracture reduction of implant failure in unstable fractures. 

A study shows that developmental coxa vara is a rare condition with an incidence of 1 in 25 000 live births.

Recent reports shows that the incidence of coxa vara can be decreased by using internal fixation such as pins or screws.

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation

Clinically the condition presents itself as an abnormal but painless gait pattern. A Trendelenburg limp is sometimes associated with unilateral coxa vara and a waddling gait is often seen when bilateral coxa vara is present. Patients with coxa vara often show:

• Limb length discrepancy
• Prominent greater trochanter
• Limitation of abduction and internal rotation of the hip.

Patients may also show femoral retroversion or decreased anteversion.

Diagnostic Procedures

 Radiography (AP view of the pelvis) can be utilized to determine the HEA (Hilgenreiner Epiphyseal Angle). Signs to look out for are as follows:

• The neck – shaft angle is less than 110 – 120°.
• The greater trochanter may be elevated above the femoral head.
• A growth plate with an overly vertical orientation.

 Magnetic Resonance Imaging can be used to visualise the epiphyseal plate, which may be widened in coxa vara.

 Computed Tomography can be used to determine the degree of femoral anteversion or retroversion.  

Outcome Measures

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Examination

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Medical Management

According to a case study, the objective of medical interventions is to restore the neck-shaft angle and realigning the epiphysial plate to decrease shear forces and promote ossification of the femoral neck defect.

This is achieved by performing a valgus osteotomy, with the valgus position of the femoral neck improving the action of the gluteus muscles, normalising the femoral neck angle, increasing total limb length and improving the joint congruence.

The following are indications for surgical intervention:

• Neck – shaft angle less than 90 °.
• Progressive development of deformity.
• Vertical physis and a significant limb.

Other indications are based on the HE – angle.

• HE – hoek > 60 ° is an indicatie for surgery.
• HE – hoek 45 – 60 ° warrants close follow – up.
• HE – hoek < 45 ° warrants spontaneous resolution.

--> Except when the neck–shaft angle is less than 110°, progression of the varus angulation takes place, gait pattern abnormalties or degenerative changes take place.  

Physical Therapy Management

In literature only the medical treatment for coxa vara was found.

Key Research

1. ↑ John C. Clohisy, MD, Ryan M. Nunley, MD, Jack C. Carlisle, MD, and Perry L. Schoenecker, MD. Incidence and Characteristics of Femoral Deformities in the Dysplastic Hip. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009, 467(1): 128–134.2 A
2. ↑ Lam F, Hussain S, Sinha J. Emerg Med J. An unusual cause of a limp in a child: developmental coxa vara. 2001,18(4):314. 5
3. ↑ DiFazio R, Kocher M, Berven S, Kasser J. Coxa vara with proximal femoral growth arrest in patients who had neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. J Pediatr Orthop 2003, 23: 20 – 26 4
4. ↑ Javad Parvizi MD, FRCS, Gregory K. Kim MD, and Associate Editor. Coxa Vara. High Yield Orthopaedics, 2010, Page 125 5
5. ↑ Currarino G, Birch JG, Herring JA. Developmental coxa vara associated with spondylometaphyseal dysplasia (DCV/SMD): “SMD – corner fracture type” (DCV/SMD – CF) demonstrated in most reported cases. Pediatr Radiol. 2000 Jan;30(1):14-24. 1 A
6. ↑ Ashish Ranade MD, James J., McCarthy MD, Richard S. Davidson MD. Acetabular changes in Coxa Vara. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res (2008) 466: 1688 – 1691 3 A
7. ↑ Robert E., Georg S., Peter F., Annelie M W., and Michael E H. Post – traumatic coxa vara in children following screw fixation of the femoral neck. Acta Orthopaedica 2010; 81 (4): 442 – 445 2 A
8. ↑ Togrul E, Bayram H, Gulsen M, Kalaci A, Ozbarlas S. Fractures of the femoral neck in children: long – term follow – up in 62 hip fractures. Injury. 2005 Jan ;36(1):123-30. 2 A
9. ↑ Juan Pretell Mazzini, Juan Rodriguez Martin and Rafael Marti Ciruelos. Coxa vara with proximal femoral growth arrest as a possible consequence of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report. Cases Journal. 2009, 2: 8130 4

Resources

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Clinical Bottom Line

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Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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References

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