• H C Ekwedigwe, U N Enweani, K A Madu, C U Nwadinigwe, I C Okwesili, and R T Ekwunife.
• Department of Accident and Emergency/Surgery, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Teaching Hospital Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria.
• Niger J Clin Pract. 2020 Jan 1; 23 (1): 7-11.

BackgroundAngular deformities of the lower limbs are commonly encountered deformities in pediatric orthopedic clinics. The values of the tibiofemoral angle undergoes changes as the child grows and these changes are self-limiting. The aim of the study is to establish the normal variation of knee angles of children between 2 and 12 years of age in Enugu metropolis and to establish any correlation between the knee angles and the intermalleolar distances (IMDs).Subjects And MethodsThis study was done on 630 school children in Enugu metropolis between the age groups of 2 and 12 years. Multistage sampling was used in the study. The tibiofemoral angles and intermalleolar/intercondylar distances were measured.ResultsThe maximum tibiofemoral angle from this study was 7.6° ± 2.4° and the age corresponding to this value was 4 years. Only 23 subjects (3.5%) had varus knee angle. The values of the mean tibiofemoral angle and IMDs plateaued from 8 to 12 years. There was a significant positive correlation between average knee angle and IMD (r = 0.785, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe physiological changes in the knee angle (tibiofemoral) follow a similar pattern as established in the literature and there was positive correlation between IMD and the tibiofemoral angle.

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