What is it?
A congenital genu recurvatum is a curved lower leg that might become straightened over time, but usually doesn’t go away entirely. The cause isn’t well understood, but doctors think it might be caused by abnormal development of tendons or ligaments in your knee or ankle joint when you were in utero.
The deformity can run in families, so if someone else in your family has one, you might too (in fact, several types are known as familial genu recurvatus). But not everyone with one will develop pain or problems—and most children who do have symptoms will outgrow them between childhood and adolescence.
The Causes
In order to accurately discuss treatment, we must first examine what causes congenital genu recurvatum. The problem often appears as part of an overall problem with bone development called dysplasia; meaning that an infant’s bones develop improperly before birth.
Congenital genu recurvatum is typically only one part of a larger problem, which results in joint problems and limb deformities. The precise cause is often unknown, but it appears that certain risk factors do appear to play a role in causing improper bone growth in infants.
Why Am I Doing This?
This can be an effective way to get your writing juices flowing, especially if you’re trying to think of something specific to write about in your niche (see Chapter 10 for more detail). It’s also an effective method for curbing writer’s block because it forces you out of your head and makes you talk out loud.
The biggest benefit, however, is that it can help identify gaps in what you know so that you can fill them with research. For example, say your daughter is asking you all sorts of questions about dinosaurs before bedtime—
you might discover during her barrage that not only do you not know how old they are supposed to live or how many teeth they have but that she also knows all their names!
What Will Happen During Treatment?
For many patients, arthroscopic knee surgery will be performed as an outpatient procedure with minimal pain medication required post-surgery. While some patients may experience discomfort after surgery in their knee joint,
it is unlikely that recovery time will exceed several weeks or months depending on individual patient factors (especially age). As long as there are no complications during recovery, patients should be able to start exercising again within
approximately 6–8 weeks following surgery and full recovery time can be expected within several months after surgery. However, some patients may need to undergo additional treatments before they can completely regain full range of motion in their knee joint.
Preparation For Surgery
Surgery for congenital genu recurvatum often starts with physical therapy before surgery, which involves stretching and strengthening exercises designed to increase mobility. In some cases, braces may be used during physical therapy as well.
The goal is to relax ligaments surrounding the knee joint so that it can work without painful restriction before surgery takes place; after surgery, patients may continue physical therapy as well in order to regain range of motion through exercise. In cases where knee surgery is planned for patients aged 12 or older,
counseling is also sometimes recommended prior to surgery in order for them (and their families) to learn how their life will change following recovery from their procedure. Here are some tips for getting ready for your knee replacement
The day of surgery
Surgery is often seen as an intimidating prospect, but it can actually be quite routine, especially if you're going in for something fairly common. The day of your surgery is basically one big preparation; it's nothing more than talking with doctors,
getting prepped for anesthesia, and waiting around until you're ready to go into surgery. This post details all that is involved in preparing for surgery; some posts also include step-by-step walkthroughs if we've actually gone through that same procedure before—and we hope you'll find them helpful!
Getting Home From Surgery
If you recently had knee surgery, here are some helpful tips for making your homecoming easier: Ice, ice, ice! Whenever possible, ice your knee starting right after surgery—and keep icing it for three days afterward.
An easy way to do that is by investing in an elastic cold compression wrap (they’re available at most drugstores). Pop it over your leg as soon as you get home from surgery, then wrap with an Ace bandage or just secure with a Velcro strap.
If you don’t have one already (and are likely allergic), ask your doctor for a recommendation; they tend to be great for helping ease swelling post-surgery.
Recovery, Follow up, And Possible Complications
To recover, follow up with your doctor once you’ve recovered. In some cases, pain can be treated through physical therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication. But if you experience complications in recovery,
see your physician as soon as possible so that he or she can address any new problems as they arise (e.g., worsening mobility in affected limbs). Also, if you have questions along the way, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor for guidance!