Bone Deformities

Bones may become deformed for many reasons. These include congenital (from birth), developmental (from abnormal growth during childhood), and posttraumatic (from healing in a deformed position after a fracture).

Bones may be deformed in four ways:

Angulation (a bend in the bone),
Rotation or torsion (a twist in the bone),
Translation or displacement (a shift in the position of the bone after a fracture or osteotomy), or
Limb length discrepancy (a difference in the length of a bone compared with the other side).

In children, gradual deformity correction can also be achieved by stapling one side of the growth plate. This tethers the growth of that side while the other side of the same growth plate continues to grow. Once the bone is straight, the staple can be removed to permit symmetric growth of the entire growth plate. This procedure has the advantage of being minimally invasive and is often performed on an outpatient basis.