An 8-year-old child is taken to an orthopedic clinic by his parents because of concerns with his gait. They tell the doctor that when he walks his knees seem to bump into one another. Which of the following choices identifies the child’s condition and his leg alignments?

• A. Genu varum; the knees angled inward, towards the midline of the body.
• B. Genu valgum; the knees angled outward, away from the midline of the body. 
• C. Genu varum; the knees angled outward, away from the midline of the body. 
• D. Genu valgum; the knees angled inward, towards the midline of the body.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the terminology 'Genu' which refers to the knee in medical terminology, and the terms 'varum' and 'valgum' which describe the direction of the knee alignment relative to the body's midline.
2. Step 2: Recognize that 'Genu varum' means the knees are angled outward, away from the midline of the body, often described as bow-leggedness.
3. Step 3: Recognize that 'Genu valgum' means the knees are angled inward, towards the midline of the body, often described as knock-knees.
4. Step 4: Analyze the description of the child's gait where the knees seem to bump into one another, indicating that the knees are angled inward and close together.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the condition described is 'Genu valgum' because the knees angle inward toward the midline, matching the clinical observation.