Angular and rotational profile of the lower limb in 2,630 Chinese children.

Angular and rotational profile of the lower limbs of 2,630 normal Chinese children from newborn to age 12 years were compiled using tibiofemoral angle, intercondylar, intermalleolar distance, medial and lateral rotation of the hip, and thigh-foot angle. Children with clinical tibiofemoral angles, intercondylar or intermalleolar distances tended to be bowlegged at birth, maximally knock-kneed at age 3 and to have normal lower limbs by age 8. Medial hip rotation increased steadily from birth to a maximum of 56 degrees at age 9, and lateral hip rotation decreased from birth to a minimum of 30 degrees at age 9. Significant differences between Chinese children and children of other races were highlighted.