Lateral widening of epiphyseal plates in knees of children with bowed legs.

Five children are described in whom genu varum was associated with widening of the lateral segment of epiphyseal growth plates at the knees. The proximal end of one tibia was involved in three cases and the distal end of one femur in two. This finding is thought to represent an epiphyseal diastasis caused by the low grade chronic stress of the bow leg deformity.