AskThePedipod
Farokh Wadia
What is Deformity correction?
Mr Farokh Wadia, Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon
1 August 2026
Your child's leg is bent due to previous injury or infection or from birth
What it is: This refers to the correction of bony deformities of the limbs, whether present from birth, due to a growth disturbance, or following injury or illness. Deformities may involve the angle, rotation or length of a bone.
Signs and symptoms: Visible bowing or angulation of a limb, asymmetry between the two sides, or a change in the way your child walks or stands.
Diagnosis: Clinical assessment with standing alignment X-rays, and sometimes scanograms or CT to measure the deformity precisely.
Treatment: Options range from guided growth (a small procedure that gently steers a child's natural growth to straighten a limb) to corrective surgery (osteotomy) and, in some cases, gradual correction using specialised frames.
Outlook: Modern techniques allow many deformities to be corrected with minimal intervention, especially when a child still has growth remaining.
When to seek advice: If you notice a limb looks bent, twisted or asymmetrical, or a previous injury seems to have healed in a poor position.
FAQs
How does guided growth surgery with 8-plates work?
Guided growth surgery gently corrects a child's limb alignment by using a small titanium plate (an 8-plate) to temporarily restrain growth on one side of the growth plate while allowing the opposite side to continue growing normally. As the child grows, the bone gradually straightens over time.
Key details parents need to know about the procedure:
Minimally invasive: Done via tiny incisions, meaning significantly less pain and faster healing than traditional bone-cutting surgery.
Outpatient procedure: Most children return home the same day as the operation.
Temporary hardware: The plates and screws are completely removed in a quick second procedure once the legs are perfectly straight.
Rapid recovery: Children are usually walking normally and back at school within days.
If you suspect your child's knee or leg alignment requires evaluation, you can schedule a clinical assessment with Mr Farokh Wadia at Spire Southampton Hospital.