Question
The newborn’s right leg is the same as the left in terms of extension, but suddenly, over the past few days, the newborn’s right leg has not been extending and is basically inactive. When adults force the leg to straighten, the baby cries.
Answer
Prevention of deformities in infants should be taken into consideration. However, there are few opportunities to implement preventive measures before the deformity is discovered. Some severe bone injuries and diseases have an unfavorable prognosis. Generally speaking, once a deformity is detected, in addition to treating the underlying cause, early traction, splints, and braces can be used. This helps prevent the progression of the deformity and aims to correct it. A simpler method is to use splints to immobilize both legs in infancy and then wrap them together with bandages. In non-surgical treatments, massage therapy for the thigh muscles is applicable to those with mild genu varum and a fair range of joint movement. Manual manipulation for correction can be combined with the use of orthopedic braces. For children, plaster splints or tubes can be used for gradual correction of the deformity, followed by long-term maintenance with braces to prevent recurrence. Massaging the thigh muscles, especially the inner muscles including the quadriceps femoris and sartorius, and combining it with active exercises can strengthen the antagonistic muscles of genu varum. Through passive and active movements, the contracted soft tissues on the outer side can be stretched and stimulate bone growth, leading to normal development.