Coxa vara

Last revised by Tariq Walizai on 7 Aug 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Dixon A, Walizai T, Knipe H, et al. Coxa vara. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-16927

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-16927

Permalink:

rID:

16927

Article created:

1 Mar 2012, Andrew Dixon ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Andrew Dixon had no recorded disclosures.

Last revised:

7 Aug 2024, Tariq Walizai

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

Revisions:

13 times, by 12 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Paediatrics

Synonyms:

Coxa vara describes a hip deformity where the femoral neck-shaft angle is decreased, usually defined as <120°.

It can be congenital or acquired. The common mechanism in congenital cases is a failure of the medial growth of the physeal plate ³.

The aetiology of coxa vara was originally classified by Fairbanks in 1928, modified by Finby et al. in 1956 ¹:

idiopathic
- congenital
  - mild or severe coxa vara
  - often associated with other congenital anomalies (see Associations)
- developmental: progressive, usually appearing between 2 and 6 years old
rachitic: usually associated with active rickets
adolescent: secondary to slipped upper femoral epiphysis
traumatic: secondary to neck of femur fracture (which are rare in children)
inflammatory: secondary to tuberculosis or other infection
secondary to other underlying bone diseases
capital coxa vara: occasionally seen in severe osteoarthritis and Legg-Perthes' disease