Blount disease is a disorder that affects children and teens. It’s not understood what causes it, but there seems to be a connection between how the top part of the shin bone, the tibia, forms due to the weight on the growth plate. As the child grows, the leg bows out like bowlegs and keeps getting worse.
Children who are affected can be treated with bracing if they’re young enough (usually under 3 years old) but surgery is usually needed for older children.
Blount disease seems to happen more often in African American children and also in children who are quite overweight.