Rapidly acquired valgus deformity of the knee after osteochondroma resection in multiple hereditary exostoses pediatric patients: A report of two cases

Patients with multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE) often develop leg length discrepancies and limb alignment deformity around the knee as part of the natural course of the disease. Limb alignment deformity occurring post-resection of an osteochondroma has been described in one case report and only pertaining to the proximal medial tibia location. Here we describe the case of 2 patients with MHE, a 7-year-old female who underwent resection of distal femur and proximal tibia osteochondromas and a 9-year-old female who had a distal femur osteochondroma resected. Both patients developed rapidly progressive valgus knee deformity requiring surgical intervention. Excision of osteochondromas near the physis of a skeletally immature patient can cause overgrowth from the involved side of the growth plate resulting in a rapidly progressing unilateral coronal plane deformity. Surgeons should be aware of this potential complication and closely follow growing patients with serial alignment radiographs and counsel the family regarding the potential of acquired limb deformity and subsequent surgeries.