Treatment Options for Femoral Anteversion By Liji Thomas, MD Femoral anteversion refers to medial torsion of the femur which is a normal variant in most children but may be excessive in a small minority. In them it leads to in-toeing of the feet and a clumsy gait while walking or running. The physician then has several possibilities. A decision is made based upon the child’s age, previous and current medical history, health status and the problem posed by the torsion. Observation Most children with femoral anteversion show complete correction over the course of years. By the age of 10 years 80% of them start to walk normally, with the torsion reduced to near normal degrees. More correction occurs during adolescence as they consciously turn their feet outwards and this leads to the condition disappearing during this period in almost 99% of children with this finding. …show more content…
The range of motion at the hip joint is measured every six months or at one year intervals, to record the reduction in the anteversion over time. It is established that the wearing of braces, special shoes or exercises have no role to play in hastening this process, which is brought about largely by the body’s own corrective mechanisms. Mild degrees of anteversion without cosmetic or functional impairment do not need to be corrected as they are not associated with any long-term consequences such as arthritis. During the period of self-correction children tend to sit in the typical W position with the legs bent backwards and out at the knees. This neither causes nor aggravates the condition but is comfortable for the child because of the inward rotation of the hip joint. Thus parents may allow their children to sit as they please without fear until the anteversion is corrected on its