Year: 2026 | Month: March | Volume: 13 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 381-386
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260343
Windswept Deformity of the Knee: A Comprehensive Literature Review on Etiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management
Bambang Tutuko1, I Wayan Suryanto Dusak1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology Prof IGNG Ngoerah Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar, Indonesia.
Corresponding Author: Bambang Tutuko
ABSTRACT
Background: Windswept deformity is a rare musculoskeletal condition characterized by simultaneous genu valgum in one knee and genu varum in the contralateral knee. Its multifactorial etiology includes metabolic bone diseases, skeletal dysplasias, mechanical stress, arthritis, trauma, and iatrogenic causes. Comprehensive reviews on this condition remain limited.
Objective: This narrative review aims to summarize the current evidence on the definition, epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, biomechanics, diagnosis, and management of windswept deformity.
Method: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus with keywords including "windswept deformity," "genu valgum," "genu varum," "rickets," and "guided growth." Relevant English-language articles were selected and critically appraised.
Results: Rickets due to vitamin D and calcium deficiency is the most common etiology. The deformity typically manifests in the second or third year of life, with valgus developing first followed by contralateral varus. Diagnosis requires thorough history, physical examination, radiographic and laboratory assessment. Management ranges from conservative measures to surgical interventions including corrective osteotomy, total knee arthroplasty, and guided growth, with the latter offering advantages in skeletally immature patients.
Conclusion: Windswept deformity requires individualized management based on the underlying etiology, patient age, and deformity severity. Early identification of the cause is essential for optimal outcomes.
Keywords: windswept deformity, genu valgum, genu varum, rickets, corrective osteotomy, total knee arthroplasty, guided growth
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