My child has boney parts on the side of knee

[smith35]

I may just be worrying a bit too much but my little girl is 8 years old and she is very active does gymnastics 4 hours a week. She's very slim although she eats well. I have noticed that on both knees there is a a boney lump on the side of her knees the outer parts. They both feel around the same I would say one may be bigger than the other one. Is this normal? With one being a tiny bit bigger? I didn't know if like feet one is always bigger than the other? She does say her legs hurt now and again and her ankle on too but she does land hard on her legs doing gymnastics. She is otherwise fit and healthy should I be worried about this? Would anyone say this is the same for their child? Anyone seen the same? Any help I would appreciate my other half thinks I've lost my mind.

You mean her fibula?

This sounds like potential Osgood Schlatters - book an appointment with a good physio. My DC had this, need to do work on specific muscle groups. Most common in active growing kids

Could you post a pic? One of my daughters also has this and I wasn’t sure whether it was normal or not.

OP says the side of the knees though. Osgood Schlatter’s affects the patellar tendon (see pic above) so is in the middle.

Fair point re bump location. A good physio is still a sensible plan. Assume OP has already spoken with her DD coach.

Could be an osteochondroma (benign bone tumour).

Yes I think so

Really wow, yeah she doesn't complain about it too much but she does get sore thighs and legs and ankle but she's full on with her landing and doing more intense work in gymnastics so maybe you are correct thank you x

Totally agree with @MissLucyEyelesbarrow
lumps at the side of the knee are not indicative of Osgood Schlatters, which affects the patellar tendon.

I haven't spoke with her coach I think I was worrying more that it could be some malignant. But it's both sides just one seems a little bit bigger but she's not complaining about it. I jusy didn't know because she's very thin maybe her knees are more obviously knobbly on the sides

I have a ganglion on the top of that bone on my right leg, it grows and shrinks, if I knock it it hurts a bit but the GP/physio have seen it many times and it's 'fine' nothing ro worry about

I'd get it checked then you'll know It's ok

I'll try to later does she have both sides

When I’m not fat I have this too. It’s just bone op

Thank you will calls Dr's tomorrow just to put my mind at ease she has it both sides same place and does feel hard like bone

Not on both knees.

it sounds like it’s completely normal bony protrusions, probably the fibula as pp said.

unlikely to be Osgoods, it’s an overuse injury so would be more generalised pain after
impact. With respect o/p, by gymnastics standards 4 hours a week is not much. I normally see overuse injuries in gymnasts doing nearer 16-20 hours. They’re usually a bit older too as they’re hitting their pubertal growth spurt.

see a physio or GP. Or if your coach is amenable ask them.

These are examples of an osteochondroma. They normally start on the bone near a growth plate. One of my DC’s has one, had it x-rayed and checked out. Doesn’t give him problems but was advised to avoid contact sports.

Basically poorly drawn but where the blue line goes to those bit sticking out is what I am worried about.

Those are her fibular heads.

Yup. Please don't ring your GP on a Monday morning in winter - when many people will urgently need help - to ask her to confirm that your daughter has leg bones 😉

So helpful

Not sure what’s unhelpful about that, especially as we’ve given you the diagnosis?

The NHS is collapsing under the weight of over-demand. GP consultations are up 20% since pre-COVID, despite GP numbers falling, and there are hospital strikes tomorrow, so practices will be dealing with more emergencies than usual. If you think it’s appropriate to waste a GP’s time to confirm your DD has normal knee joints, that’s on you, but one day, it might be you - or your DD. with a genuine medical emergency, stuck in the queue for help.

And while we’re at it, that lump on her chest is her xiphysternum.

@smith35

hold your breath and count to 100?

Wow. You can disagree with someone's comment without effectively telling them to off themselves op.

Those are heads of her fibulae

They seem more prominent because she is slim

I would take note of her leg pains though, make sure she is not overtraining. Children, particularly very slim and undeveloped children, are at greater risk of overuse injury