Origin and mechanism of postnatal deformities.

The child's skeleton must be thought of as a dynamic organ-formed, moved, and remodeled but unchanged. However, if the normal balance of the skeleton's environment is disturbed, the unchanging form also becomes disturbed and deformity occurs. This disruption of the environment may be mechanical imbalance, vascular insufficiency, metabolic abnormality, or external insult. The manner in which the skeleton responds depends on the disturbing force and the affected area.