I’m hoping there might be some parents here who’ve been through something similar with their children, because I’m honestly struggling to get my head around it all.
My 9-year-old son has bilateral femoral anteversion. His feet turn inwards when walking and running, and he frequently trips and falls, sometimes injuring himself.
He was first assessed in April 2025, when his femoral anteversion was estimated at around 40–45° using Craig’s test, with a foot progression angle of approximately −15°. We were advised to monitor him and see whether things improved naturally.
Fast forward 18 months and there’s been no improvement. At his recent orthopaedic appointment, we’ve now been advised that he may need bilateral femoral derotational osteotomies. We’re currently awaiting a CT scan to confirm the measurements and help with surgical planning.
He also has dyspraxia and joint hypermobility, which understandably adds another layer of concern regarding his recovery and rehabilitation.
The thing I’m really struggling with is that, aside from his intoeing and frequent falls, he’s just a normal, happy, active little boy. He walks, runs, plays football and does everything you’d expect a child his age to do.
The thought of agreeing to have both his thighbones surgically cut, rotated and fixed with metalwork absolutely terrifies me.
We’ve been told there is the option of operating on both legs together, which could mean approximately six weeks in a wheelchair, or doing one leg at a time.
I’m frightened of the surgery itself, the pain he’ll experience afterwards, and particularly the possibility of complications affecting his long-term mobility.
I’ve barely slept or eaten since the appointment and have found myself constantly going over everything in my head.
I know the surgery is intended to improve his quality of life, and I certainly don’t want him continuing to fall and hurt himself. But equally, the thought of putting him through such a significant operation when he’s currently so active is incredibly difficult.
I haven’t agreed to anything yet. I intend to discuss everything thoroughly with the surgeon once we have his CT results and may seek a second opinion.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone whose child has undergone femoral derotational osteotomies, particularly for femoral anteversion rather than cerebral palsy.
- How old was your child when they had surgery?
- Did they have both legs corrected together or separately?
- What was the recovery actually like?
- Were they able to return to running, sports and normal activities?
- Did the operation significantly improve their tripping and falling?
- Looking back, are you happy with the decision?
I’d appreciate honest experiences, both positive and negative. I’m not looking for anyone to make the decision for me. I just want to understand what other families have experienced.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to reply. I’m a very worried mum trying to do what’s best for her little boy.